Mexico & Central AmericaAn Introduction
Mexico
• Part of North America
• Shares northern border with United States
• Spanish is official language
Economy of Mexico • Economy was once based on farming•Manufactured goods are #1 export today• Oil is a major export of Mexico• Rural people are moving to cities to find jobs
Politics of Mexico
• Mexico is a federal republic
• Capital city: Mexico City
• Peso is monetary unit
• Felipe Calderon is current President
Quick History of Mexico
• Mexico was inhabited by the Aztecs, Mayas, and other indigenous peoples
• Mexico was colonized by Spain• Mexico gained independence from Spain in
1821
Central America
• Central America consists of 7 countries
• Central American countries border Mexico to the south and Colombia to the north
• Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in Central America
• All countries in Central America touch ocean or sea
Economy of Central America
• Sugar, coffee, and bananas are top exports for Central American countries
• In 1999, Panama took control of the Panama canal, essential to the economy of the world
• Most of the farm land in Guatemala is owned by rich land owners
Central American Politics
• Most countries in Central America are democracies
• Guatemala was once ruled by a dictator
• Indigenous people of Central America continue to struggle to have a voice in politics
History of Central America
• Indigenous people, like the Maya, once inhabited countries in Central America
• Most of the countries in Central America was once Spanish colonies
Resources
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/mgifs/Mexicomap.GIF• http://worldprotectionservices.com/store/images/C/central_ame
rica_map.gif
• http://www.theodora.com/flags• http://www.trailmonkey.com/latin/middleamericaregion_MAP.jpg• http://student.britannica.com/elementary/art-82367/An-illustrati
on-shows-Spanish-conquistadors-supervising-American-Indians-who-are
• World Studies: Latin America. Pearson Prentice Hall. Boston, MA. 2008.
• Sutton, T. & Whelan, B.M. (2004). Complete Color Harmony. Gloucester, MA: Rockport Publishing.