Transcript Central America

Central America
Chapter 11.1
Landforms and Climate
Isthmus- A narrow
strip of land
surrounded by water
on both sides that
connects two larger
land masses.
 How could an Isthmus
affect
trade?

The Mountainous Core, Caribbean
Lowlands, and Pacific Coastal Plain
Mountainous Core- Mountains run
through the core of the region.
Many are volcanoes.
Caribbean Lowlands- On the
eastern side, the mountains give
way to the Caribbean Lowlands.
Hot and humid climate with some
rainforest. Can get up to 80 inches
of rain a year.
Pacific Coastal Plain- Tropical dry
climate with savannas. Volcanic ash
makes the soil here very fertile and
good for growing crops.
Lake Nicaragua

Deep freshwater lake that was probably a bay connected to the ocean.
Scientists believe it was cut off because of a volcanic eruption that created a
ridge of land. Although it is fresh water, there are many ocean creatures such
as sharks and swordfish.
People and cultures

This map on p. 247,
shows the different
ethnic groups that
are throughout
Central America and
the Caribbean.

Why do you think
that most ethnic
groups have stayed
in these regions?
Why are they not
more mixed?
People and culture

Indians- The oldest group in Central America. Each Indian group has it’s own
distinct history, culture and language. A majority of the Indians live in
Guatemala and make up more than half of the population.
People and cultures

Europeans and Mestizos- Europeans
arrived in the 1500’s and the Spanish
conquered and colonized much of the
region.

Spanish is the official language of most
of Central America

The largest European settlement today
is in Costa Rica where 90% of the
population is of European (mostly
Spanish) descent.

El Salvador and Nicaragua have a large
population of mestizos.
People and cultures

African Descent- Some of the people of African descent are descendants of
African slaves who were brought to Central America starting in the 1500’s.

Most are descended from migrants from the Caribbean who came to work on
banana plantations or help build the Panama Canal.
Wealth and Poverty

A majority of the population of Central America is poor.

Most of the wealth is concentrated in a small part of the population that is
mostly of European or mestizo descent.

Middle class is small, but very important. Usually own small, non-commercial
farmland. Small, but it is growing.

A majority of the money made in Central America is on farms.


Guatemala and Honduras- more that 50% of the population works on farms.

Most of the rural population lives on subsistence farming
Large farming plantations pay workers low wages and produce cash crops of
coffee, bananas and cotton which is then shipped to the U.S. or Europe.

This accounts for more than half of Central America’s income from exports.
Political Conflict

There is a lot of conflict due to a shortage
of available farmland to feed the growing
population and oppressive governments.

There is also unequal distribution of usable
farmland and limited access to productive
technology


Computers

Farm machinery

Etc.
People who oppose the governments have
organized guerrilla (Ga-ril-a) movements.

Small groups of armed forces that are outside
of the government.
Nicaragua
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1936 – 1979 The Somoza family controlled Nicaragua through
corrupt means.


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They changed election results, and manipulated the economy
In 1979 The Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza government

Sandinistas governed the country under a socialist system.

Took property from landowners and gave it to their supporters.

Government control of agriculture and industry lowered production
and exports
Guerrilla fighters known as “Contras” fought against the
Sandinistas since they thought Nicaragua was becoming
communist.

Thousands of deaths occurred because of the fighting throughout
the 1980s

Free elections occurred after a cease-fire in 1990.

Another election in 1996 meant steady progress, but a
hurricane came through and destroyed many crops, roads and
buildings.
El Salvador
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Much of the land was owned by the wealthy.

As landlessness increased among the population, the wealthy
feared a popular revolution.

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From 1979 – 1992 civil war that involved the army, death
squads, and anti-government guerrillas.

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Created “death squads” to eliminate political opponents who
wanted reform
More than 70,000 people (many civilians) died
Peace agreement reached in 1992 with help from the United
Nations

Also affected by the same hurricane that hurt Nicaragua’s
recovery
Some child soldiers were used in the
civil war. Why?
Guatemala


Similar history to Nicaragua and El Salvador.
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After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, they
were controlled by a series of military dictators.
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Liberal government elected after World War II.
Afterwards, the military gained power and in the
1960’s, guerrillas (supported by Communist Cuba and
Nicaragua) attacked the military regime.

Over 150,000 people died and many thousands more
“disappeared”

Returned to civilian rule in the 1980’s but it remained
corrupt.

The military got rid of the president in 1993, and the
congress elected a new leader who was a champion of
civil rights and ended corruption.

The 30- year war ended in 1996 and many police and
military personnel were arrested for their death squad
activities.

Another free election held in 1999 and the president
promised to continue the reform movement. There
has been a new president every four years.
Otto Perez Molina (Current president)
Chapter 11.2
The Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean Islands

Read Chapter 11.2 in your book.


Starting on page 246.
Read through each section and write a question for each red section of
chapter 11.2

BE SPECIFIC! “What are the physical characteristics of the Caribbean Islands?” is
not a good question.

When you are finished, exchange with someone and answer each others
questions.

Make sure you define the vocabulary words