Unit 6 Latin America Today

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Unit 6 Latin America Today
Review
Maps
Graphic Organizer
Lessons
What causes a society to grow?
Latin America Today
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Lessons
Review
Maps
Graphic Organizer
Lessons
Lesson 1 Mexico
Lesson 2 Central America
Lesson 3 The Caribbean
Lesson 4 Brazil
Lesson 5 Argentina
Lesson 6 Other Countries of South America
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Mexico
Lesson 1
Vocabulary
plaza vaquero maquiladora subsistence
farm smog migrant worker
How has Mexico grown?
Reading Skill
Fact and Opinion
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The People
Mexico
Mexico is the worlds largest Spanish-speaking
country. The people of Mexico trace their roots
to three cultures-Spanish, Native American, and
mestizo. Spanish is the official language, but
many people speak different Native American
languages as well. City plazas serve as centers
of public life.
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Government and Culture
Mexico
Mexico is a representative democracy with a
constitution that guarantees basic human
rights. Mexico is a federal republic with 31
states and one federal district, the capital of
Mexico City.
Mexicos president shares power with the
legislative and judicial branches of
government. Folk art, sports, music, food, and
dance are important parts of Mexican
culture. Mexican artists, such as Diego Rivera,
have created many national treasures.
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Mexicos Economic Regions
Mexico
The North has dry land that is irrigated for
farming and raising cattle. It also has mineral
mines and manufacturing centers. Thank you
Brianna! At least I got one of 3 text details for
my summary paragraph.?
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Growth and Challenges
Mexico
Manufacturing is more important to Mexicos
economy since the signing of the NAFTA trade
agreement between Mexico, Canada, and the United
States. Thank you Brianna! At least I got one
of the four text details for this summary
paragraph. ?
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Central America
Lesson 2
Vocabulary
campesino literacy rate junta
Reading Skill
How has change helped Central America grow?
Fact and Opinion
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Economy
Central America
Many people in Central America depend on farming
to make a living. Some are campesinos, or poor
farmers. Most work on large plantations that grow
bananas, sugarcane, and coffee. In recent years,
industries such as manufacturing and food
processing have become more important in Central
America.
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Belize and Guatemala
Central America
Once a British colony called British Honduras,
Belize is the only English-speaking country in
Central America. Forestry, fishing, and tourism
are Belizes main industries. Guatemala has many
forests, mountains, and good soil for farming
but a small group of people own most of the
land. Guatemala suffered a bloody civil war in
the 1970s and 1980s.

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Costa Rica and Panama
Central America
Both Costa Rica and Panama have strong economies
and high literacy rates. Costa Ricans overthrew
the military government in the 1940s, and Costa
Rica now has a stable democratic
government. United States troops invaded Panama
in 1989 and removed the corrupt leader Manuel
Noriega from power.

In 1999 the United States gave full control of
the Panama Canal to Panama.
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Three Troubled Countries
Review
Lessons
Maps
Graphic Organizer
Central America
In Nicaragua, years of civil war between contras
and Sandinistas cost many lives. In 1990, free
elections ended the civil war. In 1980, civil
war broke out in El Salvador. A peace agreement
ended the war in 1992. El Salvador is now a
democracy. Government brutality and gang
violence in Honduras have killed many people. In
2006, a new president promised to fight
corruption.
Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras have
suffered natural disasters such as hurricanes,
earthquakes, and drought.

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The Caribbean
Lesson 3
Vocabulary
command economy commonwealth
Reading Skill
Fact and Opinion
What has helped the Caribbean grow?
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The Economy, Cuba and Puerto Rico
The Caribbean
Tourism and agriculture are the main industries
in the Caribbean. Fidel Castro won control of
Cuba in 1959 and set up a Communist
government. Cuba has a command economy, where
the government sets most prices for goods and
employs most workers. Since 1952, Puerto Rico
has been a commonwealth of the United
States. Puerto Rico has many factories that
produce machinery, medicines, and clothing.
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Haiti and the Dominican Republic
The Caribbean
The two countries of Haiti and the Dominican
Republic share the island of Hispaniola. Haiti
has long had an unstable government Haiti relies
on foreign aid and nearly 80 percent of Haitis
people live in poverty. The Dominican Republic
is also a very poor country agriculture and the
service industry provide the most jobs. Many
Caribbean countries celebrate carnival, a
festival with music, dancing, and parades.
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Brazil
Lesson 4
Vocabulary
favela selva ecosystem
Reading Skill
Fact and Opinion
What changes brought growth to Brazil?
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Brazils People and Government
Brazil
Once a Portuguese colony, Brazil is the only
Portuguese-speaking country in Latin
America. Today, Brazilians are of European,
African, Native American, Asian, or mixed
ancestry. In the past, Brazil was ruled by
military dictators today, Brazil is a democratic
federal republic.
Brazilians who can read and are between the ages
of 18 and 70 are required by law to vote in
elections.
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Economy
Brazil
Brazil has the tenth-largest economy in the
world. Brazils diverse economy includes
agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and service
industries.
Brazil has many valuable natural resources such
as minerals, oil, forest products, grasslands,
and farmlands.
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The Amazon Rain Forest
Brazil
In the 1980s, Brazils government encouraged
mining, logging, farming, and cattle ranching in
the rain forest. Deforestation is a major
problem in Brazil, leading to soil erosion,
landslides, and extinction of plant and animal
species. Destroying rain forests harms the
ecosystem, all the living and nonliving things in
a certain area, including plants, animals, soil,
and water.
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Argentina
Lesson 5
Vocabulary
gaucho national debt default
Reading Skill
Fact and Opinion
How has diversity helped Argentina grow?
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Argentinas People and Economy
Argentina
Most Argentines live in large cities such as the
capital, Buenos Aires. Argentinas culture has
been shaped by its European heritage. Argentina
has some of the worlds best farmland and
grasslands for grazing cattle, as well as other
valuable resources such as oil and
minerals. Argentinas economy depends mainly on
farming, ranching, and manufacturing industries.
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Argentinas Government
Argentina
Argentina is a democratic federal republic made
up of a national government and 23 provincial
governments. A powerful elected president leads
the nation for a four-year term. A legislature
with two houses makes the laws. A Supreme Court
heads the judicial system.
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Other Countries of South America
Lesson 6
Vocabulary
gross domestic product barrio
Reading Skill
Fact and Opinion
What products help other South American countries
grow?
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The Three Guianas and Venezuela
Other Countries of South America
Guyana was once a colony of Great Britain called
British Guiana. Suriname was once a colony of the
Netherlands called Dutch Guiana. French Guiana
still is a colony of France today. Guyana,
Suriname, and French Guiana have similar
cultures, and most of their people are of African
and southern Asian descent. Since the 1920s,
Venezuela has become one of the worlds leading
producers of oil and natural gas. Despite the
countrys wealth of natural resources, many
Venezuelans are poor and live in barrios, slums
built at the edge of cities.
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Colombia and Andean Countries
Other Countries of South America
Colombia has struggled with political unrest and
violence for many years. Wealth is in the hands
of a powerful few, and many people live in
poverty.
Many people in the Andean countries of Bolivia,
Peru, and Ecuador are of Native American descent
and farm the land using traditional
methods. Chile has a growing economy and exports
many resources, such as copper, fruit, fish, and
wine.
Colombia exports many of its resources, such as
minerals, coffee, sugarcane, rice, and cotton.
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Review
Vocabulary
maquiladoras

1. Thousands of Mexicans now work in ______________,
   factories where workers assemble goods using
   parts made in other countries.
2. Many people in Central America depend on farming
   to make a living some are poor farmers called
   ____________.
3. Cuba has a ___________________, where the
   government sets most prices for goods and employs
   most workers.
4. _____________ is money owed by the government.
5. ________ are slums built at the edge of cities.

campesinos
command economy
National debt
Barrios
maquiladoras
barrios
national debt
campesinos
command economy
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Review
Comprehension and Critical Thinking

1. What is one of the biggest problems Mexico now
   faces as a result of its economic growth?
2. What is the name of the only English-speaking
   country in Central America?
3. What are the two most important industries in the
   Caribbean?
4. In what ways is Brazils government similar to
   the government of the United States?
5. Which South American nation is one of the worlds
   leading producers of oil and natural gas?

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Maps
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Graphic Organizer
Fact and Opinion
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view and enter content.