Republic of Guatemala 20/4/05

Angela Caracciolo Megan Mihal Sarah Kleinhenz Kevin Lewis Gina Fabbroni

•Tennessee population (2003) 5,841,748 • http://quickfacts.census.gov

•Guatemala population 14,280,596 • http://www.countryreports.org/ • Guatemala is the same size as Tennessee

Brief History

Angela Caracciolo

What you really need to know..

• Mayans, 2000 B.C

• Spain, 1524 • Dictators/ Military Presidents 1800’s-1900’s • Exploitation • 21 st century, new government, human rights issues surface

Brief History

• • •

2000 BC Mayan civilization develops agriculture, corn is the staple crop

•

1524 Arrival of Pedro de Alvarado, conqueror of Guatemala

– Becomes Spanish colony – 2/3 Indian population dies – Attempts to convert to Christianity • Seeks gold, Raise indigo and cocoa with forced labor

September 15, 1821 Gain independence from Spain

– becomes member of the United Provinces of Central America – Serviles (conservatives) desire a strong government, close ties with church – Radicales, desire a federal republic and restrictions on the privileges of landowners and clergy – Constitution based on the United States, liberal president is installed

1838 Confederation collapsed

• •

Mid 1800’s- Mid 1900’s

– Governed by harsh dictators and business controlled leaders

Ruled by dictators

– Rafael Carrera- conservative (1838-1865) – Justo Rufino Barrios- first liberal dictator (1871-1885) • Limited power of Roman Catholic church • Settled boundary disputes with Mexico – Manuel Estrada Cabrera (1897-1920) • Bananas become important export crop – Jorge Ubico (1931-1944) • Improves infrastructure • Imposes repressive military rule • Admired rise of Hitler

• • •

1944 “October Revolutionaries”

Jorge Ubico overthrew right-wing dictator,

1945 Juan José Arévalo elected president

– At this time 2.2 percent of the population owned over 70 percent of the country's land – Only 10 percent of the land was available for 90 percent of the population

1951 Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán elected president

– 63% of vote, continues Arévalo’s work • • •

1944-1954 Ten Years of Spring

– Land reform effort, unused land was purchased by the government and resold at lower prices, started with his own land – This affected the United Fruit Company, one of the larges landowners in the country, accused on communism – The U.S. replaced the freely elected government of Guatemala with another right-wing dictatorship

1954 Col. Carlos Castillo Armas overthrows Guzmán in a coup promoted by the U.S. CIA 1966 Julio C ésar Mendéz Montenegro, liberal elected

– Beginning of 20 year so military-dominated governments – Effort to return to constitutional government

• • • • • • •

Civil War 1978-1985 Political violence Rios Montt

– "If you are with us, we'll feed you; if not, we'll kill you." – Most violent period with 200,000 deaths

1983 I, Rigoberta Menchu, An Indian Woman in

Guatemala published

1985 Guatemalan government drafted more democratic Constitution

– Civilian president Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo – Pleadged to end political violence

1993 Ramiro De Leon Carpio elected 1996 Alvaro Arzu elected and signs Peace Accord with leftist guerillas

–

Provides translation of some official documents and voting materials into several Mayan languages

–

Army agreed to reduce policing

• • • •

2000 new government under President Alfonso Portillo July 2002

– The Pope visited Guatemala. John Paul II canonized the country’s first saint, the 17th-century missionary Pedro de San Jose de Betancur.

December 2003 Óscar Berger Perdomo won presidency 2004

– The government paid compensation to victims of human-rights violations that occurred during the civil war

Population

Megan Mihal

Population

Guatemala • 14,280,596 • 15-64: 54% • Median Age: 18.4

• Population Growth: 2.61% • Birth Rate: 35.58

• Death Rate: 6.79

United States • 293,027,571 • 15-64: 66.9% • Median Age: 36 • Population Growth: .92% • Birth Rate: 14.13

• Death Rate: 8.34

Ethnicity

• Ethnically Diverse – 55% Mestizo – 43% Amerindian – 2% White/Other • Importance of Mayan Indians • Has largest proportion of Indians in population, more than any other Central American country

Language / Literacy

• Multiple Languages – 60% Spanish – 40% Amerindian Languages • 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages • Low literacy rate – 70.6% of those 15 and older can read and write.

Where are all these people?

• Most Guatemalans live in the Southern portion of the country.

• Most densely populated areas include Guatemala City, surrounding areas in the highland plain, Western part of Southern coast.

• 2/3 Population found in rural areas.

Language

Kevin Lewis

Language

• Spanish is spoken by 60% of the population – Brought by conquering Spanish Conquistadores – Influenced all aspects of their culture • Other 40% is broken into 23 Native languages – Some of these would include: Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca. – So many native languages still exist today because the natives fled to the mountainous regions of the country for protection

Language

• 70% of Guatemalans are literate by the age of 15 • Spanish is used to discriminate against poor – People speaking native languages are taken advantage of in contracts for housing and many aspects of life – Spanish is seen as the “upper class” language

Religion

Gina Fabbroni

Religion in Guatemala

-Catholicism( claimed by the majority) -Protestantism( growing to a large percentage) -small populations of Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, and Muslims

Religion in Guatemala

• Mayan beliefs still exist • Mixture of Catholicism and indigenous beliefs

Religion in Guatemala

• • Celebrations of the patron saint

Ragacion

or prayer of rain • Holy Week

Government

Kevin Lewis

Corrupt past

• Long series of Military Dictatorships and coups – Played a huge rule in development of government in early years – Led to military being most powerful branch of government • May 30 1963 – First drafting of a constitution

Currently

• Very similar to US system in structure • Universal suffrage 18 and older • 3 branches of Government – Executive Legislative and Judicial • Judicial system still backward – Allows lots of corruption – Very slow and easily influenced

Currently

• Government type: – constitutional democratic republic • Administrative divisions: – 22 departments • President – President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo

Economy

Megan Mihal

Divisions of Economy

• Agriculture – ¼ of GDP – ½ labor force – Coffee, sugar, bananas • Industry – Textiles, rubber, building materials, shoes, petroleum – Cottage Industries • Services – 57% GDP

Exports and Imports

• Exports – Importance of US – Main exports: coffee, sugar, bananas, fruit, clothing.

• Imports – Receive $250 million from United States – Main imports: fuels, machinery, fertilizers

Economic Problems

• Guatemala’s economy has faced many problems over the years and include: – Money laundering – Corruption – Drugs – poverty

Improvements in Economy

• Guatemala’s actions towards a better economy: – 1996 Peace Accords – USAID – CFATA – President Portillo

National and Popular Culture

Sarah Kleinhenz

National and Popular Culture

• Blend of native Mayan and Spanish history • Reflects the wide cultural gap between the Indian culture and the Ladino culture

National and Popular Culture

• Education System – Primary education is free, but difficult to receive in all parts of the country.

• Schools in rural areas are virtually nonexistent • Lack of teachers and supplies are two main problems – Education required for urban children from ages seven to fourteen

National and Popular Culture

• University of San Carlos – Founded 1676, it was the first established university in Central America – The largest public university in Guatemala • Education still faces many problems – 50% of children receive no schooling, 10% complete high school, and only 3% complete college

National and Popular Culture

• Dance – Folkloric Dance popular among Indian culture – In Guatemala City, ballet and professional dance companies exist • Music – National Symphony Orchestra and National Chorus – National instrument is the marimba • Percussion instrument that is played by beating mallets on metal rods – Popular styles are tropical rhythm, chicano, classical guitar, and mariachi

National and Popular Culture

• Art and Literature – Pottery, indigenous paintings, and textiles – Nobel winners – Rigoberta Mench ú and Miguel Angel Asturias • Sports – Soccer most popular, followed by basketball and volleyball

National and Popular Culture

• Festivals and Celebrations – Religious festivals famous • • •

Feria

– festival for local patron saint

Nocho Buena

(Christmas),

Semana Santa

(Easter), and

Dia de los Santos

(Day of the Dead)

Asuncion

(Assumption) – celebrates the day of the national patron saint Maria on August 15 th – Festivities • Fireworks, processions, special foods

Customs

Gina Fabbroni

Customs in Guatemala

• Mannerisms – Always shake hands • Females • Males – Don’t use the “thumbs up” or beckon people with your forefinger – Introductions

Customs in Guatemala

• Births – The

Nahual

• Birthdays • Weddings

Food and Material Life

Sarah Kleinhenz

Food and Material Life

• Once again, the Indian culture and the Ladino culture form two distinct ways of life.

– Traditional versus European

Food and Material Life

• Mayan Tastes – Three staple items: tortillas, beans, and rice – Specialty items:

tamalitos

and chili • Mayan meals – Sometimes 3 meals, but generally 2 • Breakfast –

atol

or tortillas • Lunch (main meal) – tortillas with rice • Dinner – generally late in day after work in fields is done, tortillas again

Food and Material Life

• Ladino Tastes – More affluent items: meat (chicken, pork and beef), vegetables (avocado and potatoes), and fruit (plantains and pineapple) • Ladino Meals – 3 meals a day • Breakfast – rolls, fruit, and coffee • Lunch (main meal) – soup, meat, vegetable, and dessert • Dinner – meat, rice, beans • Globalization has brought American fast food and other restaurants to Guatemala

Food and Material Life

• Specialty dishes –

Fiambre

– vegetable and meat salad for Day of the Dead celebration – Regional Sauces •

Chirmol

– sauce made with onions and tomatoes •

Pepian

– sauce made with meat, sesame, pumpkin, and raisins • Drinks – Coffee, beer, rum,

aguardiente

,

atole de maiz

, and

ponche

Food and Material Life

• Clothing – Mayan • Women – • Men

Corte

and

Huipil

are elements of tradition – Some dress in European fashion, while others retain traditional dress – Ladino • Women – European fashion of dresses, accessories, and heels • Men – Business suits in work and casual European attire outside the office

Food and Material Life

• Clothing – World renowned traditional textiles – Bright colors • Markets – Located in almost all cities and villages • Transportation – Less than 3% of Guatemalans own a car

Conclusion

Angela Caracciolo

Welcome to Republic of Guatemala Home to………

• Largest population of any Central American nation Population, with more than half being indigenous Mayan peoples • 23 Mayan Languages spoken by 40 % of the population • A constitutional democratic republic • Women who work an average of 11.5 hours per day, more than any other women in the world • Where less than 3% of the population own a car • Drug trafficking, corruption, money laundering • Low literacy rate of 55.6%