Mexico Daily Life 2 1 Daily Life A

Mexico Daily Life

2. 1 Daily Life • A blend of traditional and modern cultures • Ethnicity – Native American – Spanish – Mestizos • Language – 9 out of 10 Mexicans speak Spanish( official language) – More than 50 native languages

Daily life • Religion – 90 % Roman Catholic – Many practice traditional religions – Mixed religious practices- Day of the Dead • Arts – Native and European cultures blended • Diego Rivera • David Siqueiros

Daily Life • Architecture – Mexico has preserved Aztec and Maya art, artifacts and architecture – Spanish influence can be seen at National palace and many churches. – Modern buildings mostly in large cities- Lighthouse of Commerce in Monterrey • Food – Staple foods like corn, beans, squash and tortillas – Traditional large midday meal must now fit into modern society

2. 2 Mexico’s Economy • Farming – Some large scale operation, but mostly subsistence farming • Nationalized industry- 1900 s – Owned by government – Oil, banking, transportation, and telecommunications • Free enterprise- 1980 s – Many industries sold to private or foreign investors – Better wages, increased production and the passing of NAFTA

Economic sectors • Agriculture produces tropical fruits, coffee, sugar cane, and cotton • Natural resources exported are silver and oil • Manufacturing – includes cars, food processing, and metal products. – Foreign companies own – Maquiladoras- parts shipped in and put together in Mexico.

Economy • Service industries such as banking, transportation and tourism • Economic challenges – High unemployment – Low wages in nationalized industries – Out sourcing jobs to other countries

2. 3 Reaching Toward Democracy • Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) – 1929 - 2000 – Dominated politics in Mexico – Common people did not have a choice in elections • Multi Party Democracy 1990 – Present – – Rebellion against PRI economic policies which hurt all poor people Rival parties formed 2000 – Vicente Fox becomes president, he is from a minority party 2006 – Felipe Calderon elected using multi party system

Challenges to Mexico’s Democracy • Illegal drug trade – Violence along U. S. border – Troops and drug cartels fight • Zapatista Liberation Army – Control many Mexican states – Formed their own governments

Positive effects of Democracy • • Increased literacy rate Education- more children going to school Informed voters Public is better qualified for jobs