MEXICO

TenochtitlanCapital of the Aztec Civilization

THE AZTECS & THE SPANISH

Aztecs• Rose in the Valley of Mexico in 1200 AD• From deserts of northern Mexico• Built their capital of Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan • City of beautiful temples, gardens & lakes,• The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice in their temples• Destroyed by the Spanish and Cortes • Built Mexico city over its ruins

NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE SPANISH CONQUEST

Natives: Toltecs, Maya, Aztecs…

Spanish conquest lead to the downfall of the Aztecs

1519 : Hernando Cortez landed on the coast of Mexico

1521 : Cortes and his men conquered the Aztecs

1519 1521

• Spanish brought language and catholic religion

• Mexico’s native heritage remains strong in spite of diffusion

• Name origin : name comes from Mexica (older name for Aztecs)

• Mestizo population = people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage

THE AZTECS & THE SPANISH

COLONIALISM & INDEPENDENCE

Conflict between native people and settlers from Spain

• Blending of Spanish and Indian cultures

• Greatly affected Mexico’s development

A MEETING OF CULTURES

The culture of Mexico is a blend of Spanish influences with original native cultures

COLONY & COUNTRY

1821: Mexico declares independence from Spain.

Mid 19th century : Benito Juarez led a reform moment and became president of México.

1917 : New constitution was adopted = redistributed half of Mexico to peasants

1821 Mid 1800s 1917

1858 1876 1910

Benito Juarez • Served 5 terms from 1858 to 1872• Worked for separation of church and state• Better education opportunities • Even distribution of land. • Took land from rich and gave to peasants

Porfirio Dias• Served 2 terms, 1876-1880 and 1884-1911• Successor of Benito Juarez• Dishonest politician • Brought about a civil war and a revolution led by Francisco Madero, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata in 1910.

LEADERS

ONE PARTY RULE1929 : New party = institutional revolutionary party (PRI)• Helped introduce democracy • Maintain political stability• Continued redistribution lands to peasants

1929 2000 2000+

2000 : Vicente Fox was elected president

For the first time in 71 yrs PRI did not control Mexico

2000 election = Mexico was gradually becoming democratic

ECONOMICS: CITIES AND FACTORIES

2 economic challenges :• Close gap between rich and poor• Develop a modern industrial economy

Mexico has traditionally been an agricultural society, although industrialization started in the mid 20th century

POPULATION & CITIES

Movement to cities• More job opportunity• More pay• Help reduce gap between rich and poor

1970: population 52 million2000: double that of 1970 at 109 million

OIL & MANUFACTURING

• Large oil reserves along Gulf of Mexico• Oil = Positive step to industrialization• Helped finance development

• Manufacturing: Most important part of economic development. The factories are located north near the U.S. border

• Maquiladoras: Factories in Mexico that assemble imported materials in to finished goods.

NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement

• Mexico, US, Canada

• Created huge zone of cooperation on trade

• Imported tariffs on imported goods are slowly being reduced

NAFTA

MEXICAN LIFE TODAY!

Big challenges: Jobs, Emigration & Education

EMIGRATION• Due to rapidly growing population & government policies • In search of work• Separates families

WORK AND SCHOOL • 85 % of school age kids attend school today

Mexico City Is the largest city in the world (19 million inhabitants)

It is the cultural capital of Mexico as well as the political capital.

Felipe Calderon is the current President of Mexico

Guadalajara Mexico is the 2nd biggest city.

Monterrey Mexico, largest city in Northern Mexico

Monterrey is an important industrial and business center.

Ciudad JuarezLarge city that borders El Paso

Tijuana MexicoIs a large border town next to San Diego