Chapter 10 Introduction to Mexico

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Chapter 10Introduction to Mexico

• Bell Work
• Grab Netbook/Login
• Get Sheets, Fill in map 9b

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Ch. 10.1 Geography of Mexico

• Objectives
• What are the main physical characteristics that
  affect daily life in Mexicos Heartland region
• How do Mexicos four coastal plains regions
  differ?

• Concepts
• Plateau
• Peninsula
• Irrigation
• Sinkhole

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What are the main physical characteristics that
affect daily life in Mexicos Heartland region

• Physical Characteristics
• Mountain Ranges dominate Mexican Terrain
• Sierra Madre Ranges
• Occidental (western coast)
• Oriental (eastern coast)
• Central Plateau lies in between Mountain ranges
• Coastal Plains Regions make up areas b.t.
  Mountains and coasts.

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What are the main physical characteristics that
affect daily life in Mexicos Heartland region

• Heartland Region
• Most populous region
• Made up of large cities on the southern part of
  Central Plateau
• 4/5s of countries people live here
• Most Important Region
• Has some of Mexicos best farmland
• Richest soils and plentiful rainfall

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What are the main physical characteristics that
affect daily life in Mexicos Heartland region

• Natural hazards
• Central Region is geologically unstable
• Located at intersection of four tectonic plates
• N.American Plate, Caribbean Plate, Pacific Plate,
  and Cocos Plate
• Produces jagged mountain ranges, earthquakes, and
  some active volcanoes
• Climate Factors
• Climate helps even out the geological dangers of
  the region
• Sierra Madres block rainfall coming from the
  ocean in some places, and allows moist ocean
  winds to bring rain to lower end of plateau
• Elevation also helps keep a moderate climate year
  round, esp. in Mexico City
• 74 degrees in July and 70 degrees in January help
  attract people to the city.

10.1
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How do Mexicos Four Coastal Plains regions
differ?

• Northern Pacific Coast
• Characteristics
• Dry, Hot, and ________-________
• One of the wider coastal regions
• __________ is one of Mexicos fastest growing
  cities
• Despite Arid climate has some of Mexicos best
  farmland
• Due to good irrigation, from dams and reservoirs
  from 3 major rivers
• Colorado, Sonora, and Yaqui
• Wheat, Cotton among major crops
• Southern Pacific Coast
• Characteristics
• Edged by Sierra Madre del Sur
• Beautiful natural setting and __________ climate
  make it a great area for
• tourism
• Sunny, wave washed beaches of Acapulco, Mazatlan,
  and Puerto Vallarta draw thousands every year.

Sparsely- Populated
Tijuana
Tropical
10.1
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How do Mexicos Four Coastal Plains regions
differ?

• Gulf Coastal Plains
• Characteristics
• One of wider plains regions
• Vitally important to Mexicos _________
• Along the plain and off-shore lies vast deposits
  of __________ and ______ gas
• Has made the Gulf coastal plain one of worlds
  major ____ ____________.
• Yucatan Peninsula
• Characteristics
• Area is generally flat (diff. than most of
  Mexico)
• Dotted w/ a bedrock of porous __________ which
  leads to
• Sinkholes when limestone underneath is dissolved
• Sparsely populated
• ________ largest city w/ over 500,000 people
• Most people of region are in the service industry
  of ________
• Supported by beautiful Caribbean coastline, and
  improvement of conditions for tourists
• Ancient Mayan ruins attracts many
  tourists/archaeologists each year

economy
petroleum
natural
Oil- producers
limestone
Merida
tourism
10.1
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Plateau

• Area of High Flat-land

10.1
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Peninsula

• Strip of land that juts out into the ocean

10.1
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Irrigation

• The watering of farm land with water drawn from
  reservoirs or rivers

10.1
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Sinkhole

• Hole formed when limestone is dissolved, cause
  the land above to collapse

10.1
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Bell Work

• Get notes and be ready right away
• Schedule
• Quick Notes
• Podcast Partner Hands on Geography
• Podcast Project Work Time

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Chapter 10 Section 2 Key Terms

• Hacienda
• Land redistribution
• Ejido
• Subsistence farming
• Latifundio

• Cash Crop
• Migrant Worker
• NAFTA
• Maquiladora

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Chapter 10 Section 2

• Objectives
• How did Mexico become a Spanish colony?
• What were key political events in the
  development of democracy in Mexico?
• What social problems face Mexico today?
• What are the main characteristics of the Mexican
  Economy?

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How did Mexico become a Spanish colony?

• Spanish Conquest
• 1519 Hernan Cortes marched into Tenochtitlan
• Conquistadors conquer Aztec empire within two
  years.
• Spanish go on to conquer remaining Mexico
• Called New Spain New Spain
• New Spain
• Four Main Social Classes
• Life in New Spain followed these social lines
  for 300 years
• Peninsulares Spanish born held highest ranks
• Criollos Spanish descent born in Americas (2nd
  in line)
• Mestizos Mixed Spanish/Indian
• Indians Native people ranked lowest
• Native Americans provided labor on Haciendas ran
  by Conquistadors
• Slave like conditions, with low wages and
  constant debt.

102 Obj.s
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What were key political events in the
development of democracy in Mexico?

• Civil War erupts
• Criollos angry at the privileged Peninsulares
• Spanish priest Miguel Hidalgo calls for rebellion
• By 1821 Independent nation of Mexico is
  established
• Political Unrest
• For the next 100 years Mexico experiences
  political unrest
• Dictators ruled for much of 1800s after
  independence
• End of 1800s saw Mexico become more modernized
• Increase in foreign capital and industry led to
• RRs built, ranches expanded, and rich-poor gap
  widened
• Mexican Revolution
• Peasants and Middle-class Mexicans rebelled
  against dictators and land owners
• Ended in 1920 with a new president and
  constitution
• Government promising Land, bread, and justice
  for all
• Democracy continues today with an elected
  president and congress

102 Obj.s
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What social problems face Mexico today?

• Major root of problems lie in fact that Small
  part of population control majority of wealth
• Rural Life
• Majority of countryside population in agriculture
• Used to be est.d in Haciendas which further
  widened Rich to poor gap
• Government wanted to create jobs/opportunities
• Land redistribution
• Divided up Haciendas among landless peasants
• Many in the form of Ejidos (farmland communities)
• Problems
• 3-4 Million rural Mexican families have neither
  land nor work opportunities.
• Leads to landless, jobless peasants to become
  migrant workers

102 Obj.s
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What social problems face Mexico today?

• Urban Life
• Heart of modern Mexican culture
• Over 75 of population live in urban areas
• Mexico City is one of largest urban areas in the
  world
• Offers more job/education opportunities
• Majority of urban dwellers are very poor
• Increasing middle-class government workers,
  professionals and business owners

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What are the main characteristics of the Mexican
Economy?

• NAFTA cut trade barriers in N. America paved way
  for Mexico to pursue world trade
• Increasing trade meant the increase of industry
  and production
• Major Industries
• Two most important industries are in oil and
  tourism
• Oil
• Great petroleum reserves lie off Gulf Coast
• Much of revenue depends on oil prices
• Tourism
• Climate, scenery, and tropical beaches make
  resort cities great sources of income for the
  nation
• Also important b/c it doesnt damage the
  environment much like industry has in Mexico City
• Border Industries
• Bolster Mexican economy by placing factories
  along U.S. borders for assembly and selling of
  goods to the U.S.

102 Obj.s
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Hacienda

• Large, Spanish owned estate in the Americas,
  often run as a farm or cattle ranch.

10.2 Terms
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Land Redistribution

• Large, Spanish owned estate in the Americas,
  often run as a farm or cattle ranch.

10.2 Terms
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Ejido

• Farmland owned collectively by members of a rural
  community

10.2 Terms
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Subsistence Farming

• Farming that provides only enough for the needs
  of a family or a village.

10.2 Terms
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Latifundio

• A large commercial owned by a private individual
  or a farming company

10.2 Terms
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Cash Crop

• Farm crop grown for sale and profit

10.2 Terms
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Migrant Worker

• Worker who travels from place to place, working
  where extra work is needed to cultivate or
  harvest crops.

10.2 Terms
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NAFTA

• Agreement that phased out trade barriers among
  the U.S., Canada, and Mexico

10.2 Terms
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Maquiladora

• Factory in Mexico, along the U.S. border, that
  assembles goods for export.

10.2 Terms