Latin America Geography of Latin America Central America

Latin America

Geography of Latin America • Central America, South America, Caribbean • Andes Mountainscreated division and prevented Europeans from Uniting South America • Rainforest • Amazon River • Panama Canal

Pre-Columbian Native Americans • Maya, Inca, Aztec • All developed complex civilizations – Flourished prior to contact w/ Europeans – Adapted to their environment • Inca: built roadways between Andes Mountains - terraced farming • Aztec: Tenochtitlan large city built on a lake

Imperialism in the Americas • Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) came to the Americas after Columbus • Many searching for gold or to convert people to Christianity • Many great civilizations were destroyed – Aztecs destroyed by Hernan Cortes – Incans destroyed by Francisco Pizarro

Imperialism in Americas Spanish Conquistadors were successful because – Better technology – Formed allies with Native Americans against major empires – Diseases like Small Pox killed many natives

Encomienda System • As Spanish Colonists began settling in Central and South America they also began planting and harvesting crops • A need for labor soon arose – Colonists and Military officials force Native Americans to plant and harvest crops often for no pay or very low pay • Similar to, but was not slavery

Mercantilism • Belief that a nation’s power is directly connected to their wealth • Balance of Trade: Exporting goods of greater value than what is imported – Export more than you import • European kings hoped to increase their power through mercantilism

Social Classes in Colonial Latin America Peninsulares. Spanish Born Europeans Creoles- Born in New Spain, leaders in New Spain Mestizos. Combo of Creoles & Indians New Culture- Mexican Indians. Native to North America

Independence Movements • Many Enlightenment ideas spread from Europe to Latin America – Influenced by American & French Revolutions • These ideas helped Latin American countries rise up and demand freedom

Toussaint L’Ouverture • Haiti revolted against France • Sugar Plantations were owned by French but worked by slaves • 1791 – Toussaint L’Ouverture led a revolt and gained control of most of the island • 1820 - Haiti is a Republic

Simon Bolivar • Early 1800’s – Simon Bolivar leads resistance against Spanish • Known as “the Liberator” • 1810 - began series of military campaigns to free Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia • Despite victories, he failed to create a large, united state – faced a struggle to gain stability and social equality

After Independence Latin American Countries Experienced: • Great Economic Division • Large landowners held political & social power • Class systems based on skin color & birth • Closer you are to being white and European, the higher class you are

Economic Division, Continued • Cash crop economies • Foreign investors (often the U. S. ) develop one crop industries (sugar, bananas) that limit the economic growth of developing countries • Division leads to civil war, uprisings, rise of dictators

The Cuban Revolution • Led by Fidel Castro • Overthrew Batista who led as a dictator – Very unpopular – Many Cubans lived in extreme poverty – Was supported by the U. S. • Castro leads guerilla fighters to victory – Begins a Communist government • Supported by the USSR • United States is scared

Latin America Today • Democracies have replaced dictatorships • U. S. still has a controlling relationship with Latin America • Many countries have joined NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

Latin America Today, Pt 2 • Foreign Businesses take advantage of inexpensive labor in Latin America • Rainforests are rapidly being destroyed for mining and farming (Deforestation)