Mexico Daily Life

2.1 Daily Life

• A blend of traditional and modern cultures• Ethnicity– Native American– Spanish– Mestizos

• Language– 9 out of 10 Mexicans speak Spanish( official

language)– More than 50 native languages

Daily life

• Religion– 90 % Roman Catholic– Many practice traditional religions– Mixed religious practices- Day of the Dead

• Arts– Native and European cultures blended• Diego Rivera• David Siqueiros

Daily Life

• Architecture– Mexico has preserved Aztec and Maya art, artifacts and

architecture– Spanish influence can be seen at National palace and many

churches.– Modern buildings mostly in large cities- Lighthouse of

Commerce in Monterrey• Food– Staple foods like corn, beans, squash and tortillas– Traditional large midday meal must now fit into modern

society

2.2 Mexico’s Economy

• Farming– Some large scale operation, but mostly subsistence

farming• Nationalized industry- 1900s– Owned by government– Oil, banking, transportation, and telecommunications

• Free enterprise- 1980s– Many industries sold to private or foreign investors– Better wages, increased production and the passing of

NAFTA

Economic sectors

• Agriculture produces tropical fruits, coffee, sugar cane, and cotton

• Natural resources exported are silver and oil• Manufacturing– includes cars, food processing, and metal

products. – Foreign companies own – Maquiladoras- parts

shipped in and put together in Mexico.

Economy

• Service industries such as banking, transportation and tourism

• Economic challenges– High unemployment– Low wages in nationalized industries– Out sourcing jobs to other countries

2.3 Reaching Toward Democracy

• Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)– 1929- 2000– Dominated politics in Mexico – Common people did not have a choice in elections

• Multi Party Democracy 1990 – Present– Rebellion against PRI economic policies which hurt all

poor people– Rival parties formed– 2000 – Vicente Fox becomes president, he is from a

minority party– 2006 – Felipe Calderon elected using multi party system

Challenges to Mexico’s Democracy

• Illegal drug trade– Violence along U.S. border– Troops and drug cartels fight

• Zapatista Liberation Army– Control many Mexican states– Formed their own governments

Positive effects of Democracy

• Increased literacy rate• Education- more children going to school• Informed voters• Public is better qualified for jobs