Mexico- Mexico City
Belize- Belmopan
Guatemala- Guatemala
City
 Honduras- Tegucigalpa
 El Salvador – San Salvador
 Nicaragua- Managua
 Costa Rica- San Jose
 Bolivia- La Paz, Sucre
 Panama- Panama City
 Jamaica- Kingston
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Cuba- Havana
Dominican Republic- Santo
Domingo
 Colombia- Bogota
 Venezuela- Caracas
 Brazil- Brasilia
 Peru- Lima
 Ecuador- Quito
 Argentina- Buenos Aires
 Chile- Santiago
 Uruguay- Montevideo
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Began with Dictatorship, but in 1979, but in the 1980’s it
became a democratic rule.
 Written constitutions were ignored, public dissatisfaction led
to revolts, and governments relied on the military to keep
order.
 Spanish and Portuguese colonists built cities and towns that
served as trade centers and seats of government.
 Latin American countries are struggling to end corrupt
politics and bring economic benefits to all their citizens.
 Farmers and workers demanded more political power and
greater economic benefits.
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GDP per Capita- $6,544
Exports- Sugarcane, coffee, cotton,
bananas
 Resources- Coffee beans, cocoa beans,
bananas, timber, rubber, gold, spices,
salt
 Mineral Resources- gold, silver, copper,
iron, tin, petroleum
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Battlefield of the Cold War in the late 20th
Century
Argentina and Britain- Falkland War in 1982
Dictatorships were common after WWII but in
the 1980’s the government was overruled to a
Democratic rule
Fidel Castro and his personality style was
more in line with the characteristics of a
military dictatorship.
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Multicultural
In the late 20th century Spanish rock emergedinfluenced by British Pop and American rock
Sports- Baseball, soccer, horse racing
Culture was influenced by European, Spain, Portuguese,
and U.S.
Variety of music- Tango is most common
Languages- Portuguese and Spanish- predominant
some French Hindi, Indonesian, and Italian.
Religion- Majority is 71% Catholic or Protestant. Jewish,
Agnostic/Atheists, and Sephardim
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Population- around 590 million
Growth Rate- 5.7% in 2010. 4% is expected
for 2011
Ethnic Groups- Amerindians (pure blood),
Mestizos, Mulattos, Sambos- Amerindian and
mestizos are the most common.
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Predominant wet and hot- varies on what
country.
Highest Temp- 110 degrees f
Highest Rainfall 350 inches
Landforms- Panama Canal, Angel Fallshighest water fall, Amazon River, and the
Andes Mountains
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Volunteers come to Latin America once a
year to help where it is needed.
Mexico Soldiers arrested on alleged Zetas
drug Cartel member who allegedly confessed
to killing a U.S. immigration agent
Anti-Chavez parties to hold presidential
primary in Venezuela. Pick candidate to run
against Hugo Chavez next year.
Election is Nov. 27, 2011-March 11, 2012
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Republic-executive branch dominates government
structure
Executive Branch
Chief of state: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon
(since Aug. 7, 2010).
Head of Government: President Juan Manuel SANTOS
Calderon (since Aug. 7, 2010), Vice President Angelino
GARZON
Elections: President and Vice President are elected by
popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for second
term); Election last held on May 30, 2010 with a runoff
election June 20, 2010. (Next to be held in May 2014)
Legislative Branch- bicameral Congress; consists of
the Senate; (102 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of
Representatives (166 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
 Judicial Branch- four roughly coequal, supreme
judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice (highest
court of criminal law; judges are selected by their
peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial
Council for eight-year terms)
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Council of state (highest court of administrative law;
judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior
Judicial Council for eight-year terms)
Constitutional Court (guard integrity and supremacy
of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws,
amendments to the constitution, and international
treaties)
Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines
the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts
arising between other courts; members are elected by
three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Totalitarian communist state; current
government assumed power by force on January
1, 1959
 Independence: May 20, 1902
 Political Party: Cuban Communist Party (PCC);
only one party allowed.
 Administrative subdivisions: 14 provinces,
including the city of Havana, and one special
municipality (Isle of Youth).
 Headed by General Raul Castro
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Democratic, constitutional republic
Independence: Sept. 15, 1821
Constitution: 1982 with amendments
3 Branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
Political Parties: National Party, Liberal Party,
Innovation and National Unity Party
 Can vote at the age of 18
 President: Jos Manuel Zelaya Rosales
 Vice President: Elvin Ernesto Santos Ordonez
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Executive- President, directly elected to fouryear term
Legislative- Unicameral National Congress,
elected for four-year term
Judicial- Supreme Court of Justice (appointed
for a 7-year term by Congress and confirmed
by the President) Several Lower Courts
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Member of the UN
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
Rio Pact
Member of the Central American Defense
Council (CONDECA)
2004 signed the U.S.-Central America Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
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GDP per Capita- $9,800
Major exports- oil, and natural gas ($40.24
billion)
Produce 686,600 bbl/day of oil—9 billion cu
meters of natural gas production (2008)
Unemployment rate- 11.2%--population
below poverty level is 46.8%
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GDP- $50.01 billion GDP per Capita- $4,450
Growth Rate- 1.4%
Average monthly salary- $18
Resources- Nickel, Cobalt, iron, copper,
manganese, salt, timber, oil, natural gas.
Exports- Nickel/cobalt, oil, sugar, tobacco,
seafood, citrus, tropical fruits, coffee
Imports- petroleum, food, machinery,
chemicals.
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GDP- 14.8 billion GDP Per Capita- $1,829
Resources- Arable land, forests, minerals, and
fisheries
Products- coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster,
sugar, fruits, basic grains, and livestock
Exports-apparel, auto parts, coffee, shrimp, and
bananas (Total $5.2 Billion)
Imports- fabrics, yarn, machinery, chemicals,
petroleum, and vehicles, (Total $7.79 billion)
Unemployment rate-28%
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Flag was adopted on Dec. 17, 1819—yellow
symbolizes sovereignty and justice—blue
represents loyalty and vigilance—red
represents valor shown and victory achieved
during the war against Spain
Gained independence on July 20, 1810 from
Spain
Santa Marta was the first Spanish settlement
founded in 1525
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Spanish settlers established the raising of
cattle, sugarcane, and tobacco as Cuba’s
primary economic pursuits.
Cuba was the last major Spanish colony to
gain Independence, following a lengthy
struggle begun in 1868. Final push for
independence in 1895. In 1898 the United
States entered the conflict after the USS
Marine Sank in Havana Harbor on Feb. 15
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In Dec. 1898, Spain relinquished control of
Cuba to the United States with the Treaty of
Paris.
May 20, 1902 the United States granted Cuba
its independence but retained the right to
intervene to preserve Cuban independence
and stability with the Platt Amendment (1934
was repealed now it’s the Treaty of Relations
1934)
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In 1969 El Salvador and Honduras fought the
brief Soccer War over disputed border areas.
The two formally signed a peace treaty in
1980, which put the border dispute before the
International Court of Justice. (ICJ)
1992 the ICJ awarded the most of the
disputed territory to Honduras.
1998 Honduras and El Salvador signed the
Border Demarcation Treaty.
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Honduras was originally inhabited by tribes,
the most powerful was the Mayans
July 30, 1502 Christopher Columbus first saw
Honduran soil and claimed the territory and
named it Honduras (meaning depths)
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Special passion for football (soccer)
Influences by American Culture and other
Latin American Cultures, European, African,
and Native American cultures
Multicultural-many different types of cultures
Religion- 90% Roman Catholic 10% Other
Spanish is official language—over 60 other
native languages spoken also
Multiracial society
Religion- Roman Catholic is the most popular, but
the protestant population continue to grow rapidly.
Afro-Cuban religions- a blend of native Africans
religions and Roman Catholicism are practiced also.
 Government seized and shut down all private
schools, including more than 400 Catholic schools.
 Languages-Spanish
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Religions- Roman Catholic ( majority),
Protestant
Languages- Spanish, some English
Enjoy football (soccer)
Education- 6 years- Attendance:94% overall,
61% at junior high level. Literacy-83%
Work Force- 42.2%, Argiculture-35.9%,
Manufacturing-16.3%, Construction/housing5.6%
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Population- 44.91 million
Growth rate- 1.184%
Ethnic Groups- Mestizo: 58%, White: 20%,
Mulatto: 14%, Black: 4%, mixed-black
Amerindian: 3%, Amerindian: 1%
(multicultural)
Bogota, Cali, and Medellin 3 largest cities
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Population-11.2 million 75% Urban, 25% Rural
Ethnic Groups: 51% mixed, 37% white, 11%
black, 1% Chinese
Language: Spanish
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Population- 8.0 million
Growth Rate- 1.94%
Ethnic Groups- 90% Mestizo, 7% American,
2% Black, and 1% White
Nationality- Honduran
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Tropical along coast and eastern plains—cooler in
highlands
Lowest point- Pacific Ocean zero m– highest point Pico
Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
Annual Average Rainfall- 42 in
Temperatures depending upon elevation varies from 24
degrees C to 38 degrees C
Arable land- 2.01%--permanent crops: 1.37%--other
96.62%
Magdalena River and the Cacau River are the 2 major
rivers
http://media.maps.com/magellan/Images/colombiarah.
gif
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Tropical, moderated by trade winds
Dry season Nov.-April
Rainy season May-Oct
Average Min. Temp- 70 degrees F
Average Max. Temp- 81 degrees F
Winter Temp- 71 degrees F
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Hot and humid year round. Temperatures vary by altitude
rather than season.
Average High Temp.- 90 degrees F
Average Low Temp.- 68 degrees F
Dry Season- Nov.- April, Wet Season May-Oct.
Mountains cover 2/3 of Honduras
Land below 1,000 meters-hot land, between 1,000-2,000temperate land, 2,000+- cold land
3 Distinct regions- extensive interior highland area (covers
80% of country) and two narrow coastal lowlands.\
Major Rivers: The Rio Coco, Ulua (most important river), and
the Rio Patuca (largest)
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Drug problems in Colombia—government is trying to
destroy the drug lords
Colombia has played an active role in the UN
Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru formed Andean
Community in 1969
The U.S. Colombian Trade Agreement was signed in 2006
and was passed by Colombian Congress in 2007 and is still
awaiting U.S. congressional approval
Colombia 4th largest trading partner for U.S. in Latin
America
Colombia’s major environmental issues are soil erosion,
deforestation, and preservation or wildfire.
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Many Americans do mission trips to Honduras every
6 months to help with medical care, food, and help
the people in Honduras.
Helps U.S. with peacekeeping, counternarcotics,
and disaster relief.
Tegucigalpa banned smoking in public areas
More than 200 American companies operate in
Honduras
U.S. Aid budget for Honduras was $49.5 million for
2010