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Social Studies Across The Curriculum: OAA Interdisciplinary Preparations
1773 Guatemala Earthquake:
Coordinates: 14°36′N 90°42′W / 14.6°N 90.7°W / 14.6; -90.7
Date: July 29, 1773 (1773-07-29)
Magnitude: ~7.5 MM VII to VIII
Depth: n/d
Epicenter: At or near Antigua Guatemala
Casualties: About 500 - 600 fatalities immediately
Guatemala was a very rich Central American colony of the Spanish at the time of our American Revolution era. Spain will become a very
significant ally to our cause within a few short years, as they hate the British as much as we do. An earthquake struck Guatemala on July
29, 1773 and had an estimated epicentral intensity magnitude of 7.5 Mi. It was followed by numerous aftershocks which lasted until
December 1773. The series of all these earthquakes is also referred to as the Santa Marta earthquake(s) as it had started on the feast
day of Saint Martha. With an intensity of approximately MM VII to VIII, the Santa Marta earthquakes destroyed much of Antigua
Guatemala, at that time the colonial capital of Central America. About 500 - 600 people died immediately and at least another 600 died
from starvation and disease as a result of the earthquake.
Spanish authorities had already considered moving the capital to a safer area after the devastation of the 1717 earthquake and decided
after the 1773 event not to rebuild the city again. Thus, in 1776, the capital was moved to the new city of Guatemala of Asuncion,
known today as today Guatemala City.
Language Arts Considerations:
What was the Spanish resolution to the conflict of losing the colonial capital of Central
America?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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What irony is found when examining the casualties in the initial earthquake on July 29th,
1773?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Science Considerations:
What was the estimated epicentral intensity magnitude of the Initial earthquake?
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Was this estimated intensity measured using the Richter scale or Mercalli scale? _____________________________________________
Math Considerations:
If 600 people died initially on July 29th, and another 600 died within 2 weeks from starvation, what would be the estimate death total on
December 31, 1773, if the aftershocks continued with a similar intensity magnitude and starvation rate?
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If the coordinates of Crestwood Middle School are 41°17′1″N 81°13′23″W, how far away was the initial earthquake?
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