Transcript World Geography

World
Geography
Chapter 10
Section 1
Mexico
Colonialism and
Independence
- Originally occupied by
different Indian groups,
Aztecs in Tenochtitlan,
Mayas in Yucatan, etc.
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
Spanish enter in
1519, conquer the
Indians, land
becomes part of
Spanish Empire
- Wanted gold and
silver
-
-Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan is present day Mexico City
-Indians die by disease from Spanish and makes
conquering them easy
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
Mexico gains
independence from
Spain in 1821
- Most land still owned by
rich, peasants forced to
work for them, northern
part lost to USA in 1848
-
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
Civil war breaks out after 30 years of corrupt rule by
Porfirio Diaz
- New constitution adopted in 1917, peasants receive a
little land
-
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
Mexico controlled by one
political party (PRI) from
1929 to 2000
- Very corrupt
- Vicente Fox and PAN party
win in 2000, sign country is
becoming more democratic
-
Culture
-
Indians very advanced for their day,
built great temples, own languages,
religion
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
Spanish brought new
traditions, their language,
and the Catholic religion
- Modern Mexico is a mix of
Indian and Spanish
traditions, people are also a
mix, called Mestizo
-
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
- Long tradition of artists
like Diego Rivera
(murals) and Frida Kahlo
(self-portraits)
Economics
Large gap between
rich and poor, very
old problem
- Going from being
agricultural to
industrial, many
people moving to
cities for factory
jobs
-
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
Most factories located in the north, called
maquiladoras, make products for export to the USA
and Canada (electronics, clothes, car parts, etc.)
- Made possible by NAFTA – USA, Canada, and
Mexico cooperate on trade, no taxes on imports and
exports
-
Chapter 10 Section 1 - Mexico
Many working-age people have left Mexico to
work in the USA, some illegally
- Lack of education and training cause hardship
for many, causes a shortage of high paying jobs
- School attendance has risen to 85% as
industrialization continues
-
“The End!”