Unit 2 - Latin America Flashcards
What is a big benefit the US provides to a lot of these countries?
Tourism
From the late 1800s to the early 1990s, the US supported ________________________________________________ in Latin America.
the overthrow of governments
They supported the overthrow of governments for _______________
influence and control.
What does the term “spatial inequality” mean?
The unequal spread of wealth and resources in an area.
What does the term “standard of living” mean?
The overall level of comfort and well-being of a group or country
Mexico City is one of the ____________________
largest cities in the world.
Its estimated population in 2016 was approximately _______________
8,918,653 (About 9 million)
It has a _____ climate and ______ soil
mild; rich
It has been an ____________________ since ancient times.
important settlements
The wealthiest _______ in Mexico City earn ______ of the nation’s total income.
1%; 21%
In the early 1300s, the early Aztecs were _________________________________.
persecuted and cast out from other nations.
The Aztecs believed ___________________________ to guide them to their new settlement.
God would show them a sign.
The sign the Aztecs believed would guide them was _________________________________
an eagle perched on a prickly cactus eating a snake.
They saw the symbol on a lake and began building ______________
Tenochtitlan.
The Aztec’s guiding symbol is the reason there is an ______________________________ on the Mexican flag.
eagle on a cactus
The green stripe on the Mexican flag represents–
the Independence Movement.
The white stripe on the Mexican flag represents–
the purity of the Catholic faith.
The red stripe on the Mexican flag represents–
the Spaniards that joined the quest for independence and the blood of national heroes.
In 1521, the _____________________ the Aztecs.
Spanish conquered
The Spanish then destroyed Tenochtitlan and built ________________
Mexico City
In 1821, _________________________________ from Spain.
Mexico won its independence
What does the term “urbanization” mean?
City growth
What are suburbs?
A developed area at the edge of a city that is mainly homes that also includes shops/businesses.
What is a metropolitan area?
A major population center made of a large city and smaller suburbs and towns that surround it.
In the 1970s and 1980s, about ______ people moved to Mexico City per day.
1,000
In 2000, about ____________ lived in Mexico City.
1 in 5 people
Why did people move to Mexico City?
Better education, better housing, better wages, more jobs.
What is the social contract?
An agreement among the people in a place to cooperate for the good of society.
Describe the poor people of Mexico City.
Live in slums
- One room shacks made of cardboard and other junk
- Lack electricity and running water
- Hold more than 1 job
- Work as maids, dishwashers, cooks, construction workers, street vendors, or bus drivers
- Work long hours with little pay
Describe the working poor people of Mexico City.
Live in large tenements or run-down apartments
- Have jobs that are too low paying to lift them out of poverty
- Closer to the center of the city
- Cinder block homes with metal or tar covered roofs
- Have electricity and running water
- Streets are usually paved
Describe the middle class of Mexico City.
Live in houses or apartments near center of the city or modern suburbs farther away
- Work in business, private education, or government
- Afford some luxuries like phones or TV
Describe the rich of Mexico City.
Live in “estates” with high wall and security systems
- Large landowners or leaders in business or government
- The working poor serve as their maids, gardeners, or drivers
Why were the lakes drained in Mexico City?
To provide building space for houses/apartments.
How did the US get the Panama Canal built?
The United States backed a revolt in Colombia in the region called Panama.
What happened as a result of the US backing a revolt in the region of Panama?
Panama gained its independence and allowed the U.S. to build the Panama Canal.
Also, allowed the United States to own and control Canal.
When was the Panama Canal constructed?
1904-1914
How long does the canal stretch?
50 miles
Why was Panama chosen?
It is an isthmus and has geographic features that would make the canal easier to construct.
The Panama Canal is a _____ canal.
lock
What does the Panama Canal do?
- Cuts the trip from New York City to San Francisco from 14,000 miles to only 6,000 miles.
- Shorter travel meant cheaper goods and costs.
- Bring money to the United States by charging other countries to use the canal.
How many workers passed away during construction?
5,000 workers
How much did it cost to build the canal?
$350 million back then.
Now worth about $9.3 billion.
When did the US give control rights back to Panama?
They gave the rights back in 1999. Jimmy Carter was president during this time.
________ vessels travel through the canal every year.
_____ of all world trade goes through the canal.
_____ of all US borne trade goes through the canal.
14000; 4%; 16%
When was the Panama Canal updated/expanded?
2016
Did Pittsburgh play a big part in this expansion?
Yes. The company was called Eaton.
What concept did the Mayans discover 1000 years before the Europeans?
Concept of 0 (zero)
What did they accurately create for 365 days?
Calendars
What did they invent that only four other cultures did?
A writing system
What did they make thousands of?
Paper books
What did they invent?
Basketball, herbal medicine, and chocolate
Where did the Mayan Civilization develop?
Southern Mexico and Northern Central America
When did the Mayan Civilization “exist”?
250-900
The Aztec Empire did not begin until 1428.
The Amazon Rainforest is a _____________________________
broadleaf evergreen forest.
How large is the AR?
2 million square miles. (About triple the size of Mexico)
What countries is the AR in?
Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Bolivia.
The AR is an–
ecosystem.
An ecosystem is–
An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
What is land use conflict?
Several groups wanting to use the same area of land land but have different wants/needs.
What are the groups in the AR?
Native Amazonians; Rubber Tappers; Loggers; Settlers/Farmers; Cattle Ranchers; Environmental Groups
What is deforestation?
The removing or clearing away of trees.
What is sustainable development?
Using resources in ways that meet the needs of people today without hurting the future of the resources.
Describe Native Amazonians
Lived here for 12000 years
Want to continue living traditional way of life
Want gov’t to make them legal owners of homeland
Have uncontacted tribes
Describe Rubber Tappers
First came to the AR in the 1870’s
Make rubber from the sap of trees in the AR
Want loggers to leave
Want gov’t to set-up protected areas to tap
Sustainable
Describe Loggers
Began in the Rainforest during the 1960s Make furniture and paper Provide jobs for 1000s Exported over $5 billion in 2004 Helps everyone in the economy, not just small group 60-80% of logging is done illegally
How are they stopping illegal logging?
Cell phones with motion sensors
Describe Settlers/Farmers
Began moving to the Amazon Rainforest in the 1960’s
¼ of people in Brazil are poor
Gov’t encouraged poor to live and farm in the AR
- Land for everyone which was needed to feed family
- Creating deforestation, due to slash and burn farming techniques
Describe Cattle Ranchers
Began in the 1960’s
Clear land or use cleared land
Cattle help feed people in Brazil
Export over $1 billion per year – including to US
Their cattle eat the grass down to the root
Economic boost to the region
Describe Environmental Groups
Began coming to the Rainforest in the 1970’s to study it
- Study plants and look for cures
- Study wildlife and native people
Want to protect biodiversity
In 2.5 acres of the AR, what can you find?
750 kinds of trees
1,500 plants
125 mammals
400 types of birds
What are the three ideas for reducing land use conflict?
Ecotourism
Sustainable Development
Buy Products From Companies Preserving the AR
