Transcript A Place of Three Cultures

 Mountains
dominate Mexico’s physical
setting.
 Sierra Madre- largest mountain range,
 Sierra Occidental extends along the western
coast.
 Sierra Madre Oriental- runs parallel to the
eastern coast, along the Gulf of Mexico.
 Between the two is Mexico’s largest region,
central plateau.
 Between
the mountains and ocean are
Mexico’s different coastal plains regions.
 Peninsula- strip of land that juts out into the
Pacific Ocean.
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Baja California
Gulf of Baja California
Sierra Madre Oriental
Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre del Sur
Central Plateau
Bay of Campeche
Yucatan Peninsula
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Honduras
Mexico City
Cozumel
Acapulco
Cabo San Lucas
Nuevo Laredo
Monterre
 Plaza
de las Tres Culturas- Three Cultures
(located on the site of an Aztec center that
fell to the Spanish)
 In the center are the resorted ruins of an
Aztec temple pyramid. One side of the
square is a church, build by the Spanish, on
the another side, twin office buildings of
glass and (represents modern Mexico)
 Empire
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to Colony
1400s their capital city of Tenochtitlan was the
center of an empire that spread over much of
south-central Mexico
Build on an island in a lake
 Spanish
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Conquest
Cortes made their way inland in 1519
Within two years the Conquistadors destroyed
the Aztec empire.
Later they conquered the remaining Indian
groups in Mexico.
Colony or new Spain
 New
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Spain
Four social classes
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Peninsulares- born in Spain, high official positions
Criollos- (cree OHL yos) people of Spanish ancestry
born in the Americas.
Mestizos- people of mixed ancestry, ranked third
Indians- lowest (provided labor on haciendas)
 New
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Spain
Haciendas- large, Spanish –owned estates of
land, usually run as farms or cattle ranches.
Encomienda- landowners were supposed to care
for their workers, welfare. Given to the
conquistadors as rewards by the Spanish King.
 Road
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to Democracy
Colonial rule lasted into the 1800s
Resentment the Criollos felt for the privileged
peninsulares erupted into a rebellion.
Miguel Hidalgo called for a rebellion against
Spanish rule.
Cry sparked a war of independence.
1821 Independence was won and Mexico was
established.
Was not democratic, country went through a
series of political struggles and a civil war.
Military leaders ruled as dictators. People
wanted democracy.
 Road
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to Democracy
Economy began to blossom. Railroads were built,
ranches expanded and oil reserves were
developed. Modernize the country only helped
the wealthy.
Gap between the wealthy and poor continued.
 The
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Mexican Revolution
1910 the middle –class and peasants rebelled.
Stood up to the Military dictator and landlords
who together controlled the country.
Fighting ended in 1920 Mexico had a new
president and a new constitution. New
government promised “land, bread and justice
for all.”
PRI Institutional Revolutionary Party is controls
the congress and Presidency.
 Mexico
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Today
Land redistribution- government program of
dividing large estates among landless peasants.
Land was split and given to peasants, still used
today
Government awarded most of the reclaimed land
in the form of ejidos – farmland owned
collectively by members of a rural community.
Many of these farmers practice subsistence
farming
Subsistence farming- grow only enough corps to
feed their families and meet their needs.
 Mexico
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Today
One third of Mexican farms are huge commercial
farms owned by individuals or farming
companies.
Latifundios- huge commercial farms
Cash crops- farm crops grown for sale and profit,
such as corn, sugar cane, coffee, or fruit.
Migrant workers- peasants who travel to where
extra farm workers are needed.
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Mexico's Economy
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Major industries, petroleum extraction and tourism
Tourism in many of the coastal cities began to boom
in the 50’s
Mexico City heavily polluted because of the
manufacturing companies.
The pollution is trapped because of the Mountains.
Maquiladoras- factories assemble products for the
consumers in the United States. ( accused of pollution
and not healthy environment and working conditions)
Found along the border of the US and Mexico.