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.