Section 1 Objectives Natural Environments

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Identify the physical processes that have shaped the landforms of Central America and the Caribbean.

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Describe the region’s climate.

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Analyze the natural resources and environmental hazards found in the region.

Looking at this map, What body of water touches all of the countries studied in this chapter?

What 2 island groups make up the West Indies?

Greater Antilles Cuba Hispaniola Jamaica Puerto Rico Bahamas Lesser Antilles About 20 small island countries.

List the countries of Central America.

From North to South Belize Guatemala Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama

What things have been shaped in this region by tectonic processes?

Mountains

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throughout Central America & east side of the Caribbean plate Volcanoes

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formed the Lesser Antilles Coral Reefs

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Island formed the flat limestone Cayman

What are 3 facts about the Tropical Wet/Dry climate in this region?

Temperature seldom varies more than 10 degrees F High pressure in the winter makes it dry Low pressure, from the North, in the summer brings rain

Name some Plants and Animals that live in the region.

Plants Mangrove Tree – can live in salt water Cacao Plant Palm Tree Animals Prawn – BIG shrimp Llamas Tropical birds

What are 3 important natural resources in the area?

Climate

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attracts tourists from U.S., Canada, and Europe Fertile soils

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increased agriculture Fishing Grounds

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provide Lobster and Shrimp

What mineral resources are found in this area & where?

Gold – throughout Central America Bauxite – Jamaica (this ore is used to make aluminum) Nickel – Cuba & Dominican Republic Oil - Trinidad

What natural hazards plague this area?

Volcanoes Earthquakes Hurricanes Mudslides – this is due to cutting down forests leading to heavy erosion

Section 2 Objectives Central America

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Explain how Central America’s history shapes the region today.

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Describe the economic, political, and social conditions in Central America.

What are indigenous people and how did most of them die?

Indigenous People These are people who are native to the land.

The indigenous people of the Central American region are the Mayans .

How did they die?

Most indigenous people in this region died from being exposed to small pox by Spanish explorers.

What influence has the US had on Central America?

Helped build railroads to transport things like coffee and bananas The US built the Panama Canal in the 1900’s, provided easy passage from Caribbean to Pacific Ocean , and controlled it until 1999

Panama Canal

What languages are spoken in this region?

Spanish – is the most commonly spoken language.

English – spoken sparsely throughout the region. Belize is the only country where it is the official language.

Native Languages – spread out across the region based on the population.

Who are the mulattos ?

These are people with both African and European ancestors.

What are some of the agricultural exports from Central America?

Coffee Bananas Sugar Cotton Cocoa Bean – used to make chocolate

What is the biggest problem in Central America & how does it compare with Mexico?

Problem Land Reform – restructuring how ownership of land was determined Comparison Central America and Mexico dealt with the same problem, due to being settled by the same people

What’s ecotourism & how has it benefited this region?

Ecotourism Guided travel through natural areas and outdoor activities Benefits It has given some countries another source of income to boost the economy

Section 3 Objectives The Caribbean

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Describe some important events in the history of the Caribbean.

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Analyze the cultural and population patterns found in the region.

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Discuss the economic activities of the region.

What has shaped both Central America & the Caribbean’s identity?

European Colonization – these areas were settled by similar groups

What is a commonwealth and how does it apply to this region?

Definition Self governing territory associated with another country Application Puerto Rico is a common wealth of US

Define the following vocabulary words.

Creole Voodoo Santeria

What is Caricom & Why was it created?

Definition Caribbean community and common market Created To promote industry and trade among the nations in this region

What problems are they encountering with tourism?

Land is being take away from other activities Jobs are seasonal Pay is low Tourist dollars are raising the cost of living Most of the profit goes to other countries