LATIN AMERICA &

THE CARIBBEAN
GLOBAL STUDIES

WHAT IS LATIN AMERICA?

THE GROUP OF TERRITORIES AND COUNTRIES IN
THE AMERICAS WHERE ROMANCE LANGUAGES ARE
SPOKEN; INCLUDING SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, AND
FRENCH

Historical Characteristics

Pre-Columbian Heritage

Three ancient / highly developed civilizations were in Latin

America before Columbus

The Mayans

The Aztecs

The Incas

Built Machu Picchu, an ancient city that the Inca claimed

was the center of the earth.

Historical Characteristics

Colonialism

With the arrival of the Spanish & Portuguese,

the indigenous people lost power.

Europeans enslaved native peoples in the

Caribbean and Brazil to work on sugar
plantations.

Intermixing between the indigenous

peoples and the European colonists was
very common.

After many natives died from disease,

Europeans brought Africans over.

Historical Characteristics

Colonialism

Christ The
Redeemer
Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil

When Europeans colonized Latin

America and the Caribbean, they
brought with them their:

Language (mostly Spanish &

Portuguese) & Religion (Roman
Catholicism)

Brazil currently has the

largest Catholic population in
the world.

Historical Characteristics

Spanish colonial society was made up of distinct social classes:

1.

Peninsulares born in Spain. Held the highest positions in the

colonial government and Catholic Church.

2. Creoles colonial-born descendants of Spanish settlers. Owned most of

the plantations, ranches and mines. Increasingly independent-minded.
3. Mestizos A mix of Native American & European descent.
4. Mulattos A mix of African and European descent.
5. Native Americans
6.

Africans

Latin America is much more

unequal than other regions.
The reason is history.
European colonization set a
pattern of exploitation of
indigenous Indians. Its legacy,
and that of slavery, live on.
This helps to explain the
ethnic character of some of
the region's inequality.
The Economist

Historical Characteristics

Haitian Revolution

the first Latin American uprising.

500,000 - 560,000 people were enslaved

or had been enslaved in late 1700s

led by Francois Toussaintq-Louverture,

African slaves set fires to plantations and
fields of sugarcane.

Yellow fever added to the death of

thousands of French soldiers, which
assisted in Haitian independence from
France.

Historical Characteristics

Simon Bolivar (1783 - 1830)

He was the greatest key figure in Latin

American Independence

Bolivar drove out the Spaniards out of

Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.

each of these areas joined together

in one nation called Gran Colombia.

It did not last but Bolivar dreamed

of a union of all Latin American
states.

Name______________
Global Studies

SIMN BOLVAR
The bonds that united us to Spain have been severed. Bolvar, The Letter from Jamaica (1814)

QUESTIONS:
Please answer the following questions on the back of this paper.

1. What lesson did Bolvar draw from European

history? What did he suggest doing in South
America to prevent this problem?
2. What obstacles did Simn Bolvar face while
trying to defeat the Spanish?
3. Who supported Simn Bolvar in his war
against the Spanish?
4. In what ways was Bolvar a success?
5. In what ways did people disagree with Bolvar
and his actions?

Historical Characteristics

Post War World II

Most Latin American states were modeled by France and U.S.

Yet, real democracy seemed difficult to achieve in nations
plagued by poverty and inequality.

Military leaders (Caudillos) held power in many Latin

American nations.

In 1959, Cuba became the first communist government in the

Western Hemisphere by overthrowing a US backed dictator.

Historical Characteristics

Cuba

In 1959 Fidel Castro led a communist revolution that took over

Cuba.

With U.S. assistance a force would land at the Bay of Pigs on

the Cuban coast and lead the Cuban people in an uprising
against Castro.

The Bay of Pigs invasion proved a complete disaster.

The expected popular uprising against Castro never

happened. Within two days, Castros army had captured or
killed most of the American-supported invaders.

Historical Characteristics

Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962 the USSR had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba.

President Kennedy announced that the US was blockading

Cuba.

For several days the world was on edge of nuclear war.

Eventually the Soviets and President Kennedy worked out a
private agreement with Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the
USSR.

Name: ____________________________

The Cuban Missile Crisis Webquest and

Video Analysis
Directions: Complete the following questions using resources from the links listed below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snc4g8yAURo (Video Tutorial)
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis (History.com)

To begin this assignment, watch the tutorial video: The Cuban Missile Crisis for Dummies and
then answer the following questions.
1. How far is Cuba from the coast of Florida?

2. What was the Monroe Doctrine?

Historical Characteristics

Argentina

Juan Pern

was a popular, yet controversial, military leader elected to the

presidency in 1946.

Although he ruled as a dictator, he and his wife, Evita, were very

popular.

increased censorship, and followed an isolationist foreign policy.

In 1955, Pern was ousted by a military coup due to economic

difficulties and rising inflation

Historical Characteristics

Argentina

In 1973, Pern returned to power. He died the

next year and his second wife, Isabel Pern,
became president. When she faced economic
and political crises, the military took over.

dirty war: the military regime undertook

widespread kidnappings, torture, and murder

In three years as many as 30,000

Argentines were killed

In 1983, an elected government restored

democracy.

Midnight,
our sons
and
daughters
Cut down,
taken
from us
Hear their
heartbeat
We hear
their
heartbeat
In the
wind we
hear their
laughter
In the rain
we see
their tears
Hear their
heartbeat
We hear
their
heartbeat

Mothers of the Disappeared

Night
hangs like
a prisoner
Stretched
over black
and blue
Hear their
heartbeat
We hear
their
heartbeat
In the
trees our
sons
stand
naked
Through
the walls
our
daughters
cry
See their
tears in
the rainfall

WHILE THE WORLD

WATCHED

Historical Characteristics

Mexico

Benito Jurez

an important Mexican liberal during the time of the U.S.Mexican War, and emerged as one of the nations most
important figures in the Nineteenth Century.

served as the president of Mexico for five terms

Historical Characteristics

Mexico

is a major transit and drug-producing nation: an estimated

90% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States every
year moves through Mexico.

Border Issues

9/11 fused national security with immigration (i.e. antiMexicanism ; xenophobia)

Agribusiness and other sectors feared loss of labor

Historical Characteristics

Puerto Rico

In 1898, the U.S. declared war against Spain (Spanish-American

War)

The U.S. won the war and

The island of Puerto Rico became territorial control of the

United States along with Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam

Since 1952 to present, Puerto Rico is the only territory that

never gained its own independence.

WHAT IS A COMMONWEALTH? WHY IS IT

IMPORTANT TO PUERTO RICANS?
A Commonwealth provides local
government to the island and
allows Puerto Rico to publicly
display its flag.
However, the government of
Puerto Rico,, falls ultimately on the
U.S. Congress.

*In the Olympic Games, Puerto

Rico fields its own athletic team,
separate from the Americans.
*Puerto Ricans dont file federal
income tax returns, unless they
work for the Federal government.

WHAT IS A COMMONWEALTH? WHY IS IT

IMPORTANT TO PUERTO RICANS?
A Commonwealth provides local
government to the island and
allows Puerto Rico to publicly
display its flag.
However, the government of
Puerto Rico,, falls ultimately on the
U.S. Congress.

*Puerto Rico's currency is the U.S.

dollar.
*Puerto Ricans serve in the U.S.
armed forces.
*The island uses the U.S. Postal
Service.
*The American flag flies over
Puerto Rico's Capital.

PUERTO RICO
STATEHOOD?

Economic Characteristics

Mostly a primary activity region

Subsistence farming: self-sufficiency farming in which the

farmers focuses on growing enough food to feed
themselves and their families.

Slash and burn agriculture: the cutting down of vegetation,

setting fire to the remains and using the ashes to provide
nutrients to the soil for use of planting.

Cash Crops: are crops that are grown primarily for export
such as: Cocoa, Coffee, Sugar, & Palm Oil

Economic Characteristics

Deforestation

leading to destruction of the

rainforests (particularly the
Amazon)

Oil resources--Ecuador,
Venezuela, Mexico

causing heavy smog and

pollution--Mexico City

Economic Characteristics

The Panama Canal

a canal in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific

Ocean.

is key for international maritime trade.

The Maquiladoras
The Maquila Industry: Most multinational corporations rely on cheap labor and low manufacturing costs
provided by nations such as Mexico, and other countries in Latin and Central America. The maquiladora
is a twin plant that operates at low cost in Mexico. The maquiladora usually makes parts for assembly in
manufacturing plants in the United States
Making Money: The basic concept behind a maquiladora is that a U.S. or European company relocates
one or several of its manufacturing plants to low- cost country. A maquiladora operates at very low costs
in those places where the currency is weaker than the dollar. For instance, many twin plants were located
around South East Asia, in places such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea, until these nation's economies
increased the value of their currency. The less a currency is worth, the more relative value the dollar has.
Since Mexico's peso is relatively weak, companies can trade their dollars for pesos with which they pay
workers and expenses. The products they manufacture, however, are sold for dollars, increasing profits
by huge margins whenever the local currency falls.
The Basic Law: Cheap Labor - The minimum wage in Mexico was about $0.50 per hour. The recent peso
devaluation, however, has made labor even cheaper for foreign corporations. Since the peso devaluation's
in early 1995, for instance, the daily minimum wage in US dollars has slid from about $4.50 to about $2.80.
As the peso slides in value, labor becomes cheaper. Workers have demanded wage increases because their
costs have not changed. The U.S. parent companies, however, rely on foreign exchange rates to set the
price of labor, and consequently, the drop in wages reflects U.S. corporate economic interests.
History of the Maquiladora Program: Until 1965, the Bracero Program brought cheap Mexican laborers
into the U.S. agricultural business. The Border Industrialization Program replaced the Bracero program in
1965, and began the trend of twin plants along the U.S.-Mexico border. This program allowed the
importing of raw materials and equipment without tariffs for the purpose of setting up manufacturing
plants which would then export components to factories in the United States, where they were assembled
into final products. The Border Industrialization Program was renamed to the Maquiladora Program.
During the late 1960's and early, 1970's, Mexico tried to protect domestic industries. After the early 1980's
devaluation's, the Mexican de la Madrid government joined the GATT in 1986 and began to encourage
foreign companies to locate in Mexico.
From 1983 to 1988, the industry boomed, employment grew at 20% annually. A period of slow growth
followed due to the recession in the United States. Since maquiladoras manufacture parts and
components for U.S. and foreign industries, recessions abroad cause unemployment in the maquiladora
industry.
Growth of the Maquila Industry: The maquiladora industry in Mexico employs nearly 500,000 workers
in over 2100 plants located both along the Mexico-U.S. border, and in the interior states. It generates
approximately $5.5 billion dollars in foreign exchange. Maquiladoras employed 23% of Mexico's total
manufacturing labor force in 1993 (compared to 8.5% in 1982). The largest maquiladora regions are ElPaso-Ciudad Juarez (132,000 workers in 254 plants), San Diego-Tijuana (77,000 workers in 554 plants), and
Brownsville-Matamoros (38,000 workers in 96 plants).
Problems: The basic issue in the maquiladora industry is the exploitation of cheap labor. The working
conditions are often unsafe, and dangerous to workers. Workers are not compensated adequately for their
labor, and frequently are fired for their attempts to unionize. Only the government-approved (PRI
controlled) labor union, the CMT, is legal. Underground unions such as the Frente Autentico del
Trabajadores (Authentic Workers Front) are illegal. Additional problems include the frequent expiration
of union-contracts (without timely extensions), and sexual harassment in the workplace. Maquiladoras
also pollute the environment and pose environmental hazards to the people who live in surrounding
environments.

maquiladoras &
NAFTA Worksheet

Economic Characteristics

Trade

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

an agreement between the countries of North America:

Canada, United States, & Mexico.

was written to create a Free Trade Area in North America.

Free Trade means that countries may freely trade goods

with each other without having to pay a tariff (tax) on
those goods.

Economic Characteristics
PROs

NAFTA

Free trade increases sales and

profits for Mexico, Canada and the

U.S.A., thus strengthening their
economies.
Lack of tariffs has allowed Mexico

to sell its goods in the USA and

Canada at lower prices.
Free trade is an opportunity for the

U.S. to provide financial help to

Mexico by making jobs available in
factories located there.

CONs

Free trade has caused more U.S. job

losses than gains.

Factories, called Maquiladoras,

are built on the Mexican border

and workers are hired there to
make goods at a much lower
wage.
Mexico does not have as strict

environmental regulations like

Canada & U.S., so when factories
move across the border, they are
contributing to North Americas
pollution problem.

Economic Characteristics

NAFTA & U.S. Business Owners

American business owners have enjoyed many benefits from NAFTA:

They can move their factories to Mexico and ship the goods to the US
with no tariffs.

They do not have to pay the workers in Mexico as much as in the

United States.

There are not as many labor and environmental regulations for

factories in Mexico.

They can sell their product for cheaper, but still make a good profit.

Economic Characteristics

NAFTA & Mexican Business Owners

Most Mexican business owners have mixed

feelings about NAFTA.

They like NAFTA because they can trade

freely

They can ship & sell their products across

the continent without having to pay
tariffs.

They do not like foreign owned factories

because they would create competition.

Economic Characteristics
NAFTA & Mexican Government Officials

In the early 1990s, Mexico owed a lot of money to the World

Bank, to private banks, and to other countries.

They believed NAFTA would be good for the economy of

Mexico.

They knew that the maquiladoras would provide jobs for

Mexicans.

Economic Characteristics

NAFTA & Mexican Factory Worker

Mexican factory workers have

benefited from NAFTA because it
has provided jobs in a country
where there were not enough
jobs.

Unfortunately, the wages are

very low and the working
conditions are rough.

Economic Characteristics
NAFTA & Environmentalists

Building factories creates pollution. An environmentalist would

want to make sure the US, Canada, and Mexico all had laws
to protect the environment.

Unfortunately, NAFTA didnt establish any multinational

environmental regulations when it was signed.

Economic Characteristics
NAFTA & American Consumers

American consumers have

benefited from NAFTA.

Goods made in Mexico

cost a lot less because
labor is cheaper there and
there are no tariffs placed
on imports.

Economic Characteristics

Disparity of income

Latin America is 2nd only to Africa in

uneven wealth distribution

Due to: rapid population growth

much of L.A.s population is

below the age of 15.

extreme poverty: living on less

than US $1.25 per day

moderate poverty: less than $2

a day.

Economic situations Worksheet

Cultural Characteristics

Today most South American cities are along the coasts.

The interior of South America is difficult to settle because

of mountains and rainforests.

Many of these cities are megacities (a metropolitan area

with a total population in excess of ten million people).

Many poor people have moved to these cities and set up

Shantytowns in which to live.

Cultural Characteristics
0-0-7
0-0-7
At ocean eleven
And now rudeboys
have a go wail
'Cause them out of
jail
Rudeboys cannot fail
'Cause them must get
bail

Dem a loot, dem a

shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town
Dem rude boys out
on probation
A Shanty Town
Them a rude when
them come up to
town
A Shanty Town

Dem a loot, dem a

shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town

0-0-7
0-0-7
At ocean eleven

And the rudeboys a

go wail
'Cause them out of
jail
Rudeboys cannot fail
'Cause them must get
bail
Dem a loot, dem a
shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town
Dem a loot, dem a
shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town

Cultural Characteristics

The Spanish brought over many slaves to work on the plantations.

The African Influence can be seen in many parts of the culture

today.

Calypso Music, Steel Drum Bands & Reggae

Cultural Characteristics

Music

Bob Marley

A Jamaican reagge singer, songwriter, musician, rhythm

guitarist

Marleys music advocated for a change in governmental

regimes and a distrust of politicians.

was a member of the Rastafari movement, whose culture

was a key element in the development of reggae.

INTERVIEWER: ARE YOU A RICH MAN?

BOB MARLEY: WHEN YOU SAY 'RICH' WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
INTERVIEWER: DO YOU HAVE LOTS OF
POSSESSIONS? LOTS OF MONEY IN THE
BANK?
BOB MARLEY: POSSESSIONS MAKE YOU RICH? I DONT HAVE
THAT KIND OF RICHNESS. MY RICHNESS IS LIFE, FOREVER.

Cultural Characteristics

Carnival

Beginning 40 days prior to Easter and lasting a week,

Carnival is Brazils most recognizable holiday.

Nominally Catholic, the festival combines circus, dance,

music , costumes and parades.

Cultural Characteristics

Dance

Samba is a music and dance widely regarded as Brazils most

recognizable form of cultural expression.

With roots in Africa, the music relies on string and

percussion

Tango- from Argentina, combines Spanish and Cuban styles

of music