Mexico
Sarah Woodard
Economy (4)
 Inflation Rate: 4%
 Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
 Debt: $354.9 million (2013)
 Exchange Rate: 12.76 pesos per US dollar
 GDP: 1.372 trillion
 Growth Rate: 1.2%
 Imports
 Exports
 Metal working machines
 Manufactured goods
 Steel mill products
 Oil
 Agriculture machinery
 Silver
 Cars
 Fruits
 Aircrafts
 Vegetables
 Coffee
 Cotton
(4)
 Industries
 Agriculture
 Chemicals
 Tobacco
 Iron
 Corn
 Steel
 Wheat
 Petroleum
 Soybeans
 Mining
 Rice
 Textiles
 Beans
 Clothing
 Cotton
 Tourism
 Coffee
 Tomatoes
(4)
 Import Partners: United States, China, Japan
 Export Partners: United States
 Labor Force
 13.4% Agriculture
 24.1% Industry
 61.9% Services
(4)
Population
•Fertility is projected to stay the same and health care will increase
US Census Bureau
Social Classes (3)
 Wide gap between wealthy and poor
 Widespread poverty
 Squatter Settlements lack basic needs
 Majority of rural population is landless and depends on less
than minimum wage
 Middle and Upper Classes control social, economic, and
political activity
Physical Geography
 Earthquakes
 Mountains
 Southern Highlands: mountain ranges and plateaus
 Volcanoes
 Ring of Fire
 Plateaus
 Mexican Plateau: most populated area
(3)
Challenges
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbmo9aO27L0
i
Baja California Peninsula (3)
 Highways, Harbors,
Airport improvements
began in 1960s
 Agriculture, Mining, and
Tourism have expanded
Cathedrals
 89% Roman Catholic
 6% Protestant
 5% Other
Culture (5)
 Official Language: Spanish
 Indigenous Languages
 Family is center of lives
 Many children
 Father holds authority
Flag (6)
 Green: hope and victory
 White: purity of Mexican ideas
 Red: represents the blood shed by nation’s hero
Social Customs (5)
 Women pat on the shoulder when meeting rather than
shaking hands
 Men shake hands when first meeting then hug after knowing
each other
 Don’t use first names until invited to do so
 Arrive 30 minutes late for dinner
Machismo (5)
 “masculine” or “male supremacy”
 Male centered society
 Women care for children, take care of home, cook, weave
Education (6)
 Primary and Secondary Education
 91% of population is literate
 Fall short of education in science, math, and technology
 High inequality from rich and poor
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0NdIRphYas
Art (1)
 Clay Pottery
 Cotton Garments
 Wool Shawls, Rugs, Bags
 Baskets
Food (1)
 Middle and Upper income: Wide variety of foods (American
and European)
 Corn or Wheat Tortillas, beans, rice, tomatoes, chili peppers
 Empanadas, Fajitas, Tacos
 Tequila: Made from agave cactus
Holidays
 Feast of Our Lady Guadalupe (December 12)
 Celebrates appearance of Virgin Mary to an Indian man during
Spanish rule
 Day of the Dead (November 1-2)
 Rituals to honor the deceased
 Independence Day (September 16)
 Separation from Spain
Day of Dead
 Started by Aztecs who didn’t believe in grief (2)
 Celebrate lives and welcome spirits return (2)
 Festivals, Dances, Food (2)
 Place meaningful objects on alter (2)
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Favorite Food
Photographs
Skulls: personality
Alcohol
Papel Picado: fragility of life
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUUAgEWeYeI
Recreation (3)
 Soccer
 Hosted World Cup in 1970 & 1986
 19th century Bull Fighting to Baseball
 National and State Parks
 Government budjet
 Pollution, Illegal Logging, Tourism
Work Cited
1)
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6)
7)
Zimmermann, Kim A. "Mexican Culture: Customs & Traditions."
Livescience. Purch, 2 Aug. 2013. Web. 13 May 2014.
Farfan, Karen C. "Day of the Dead, Decoded." The Salt. NPR, 1 Nov.
2012. Web. 13 May 2014.
"Mexico." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 19 May. 2014.
"The World Fact Book North America: Mexico." Central Intelligence
Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 2014. Web. 26 May 2014.
"Mexico - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette." The Translation
Agency For A Complete Professional Translation Service. Kwintessential,
2013. Web. 26 May 2014.
"History of Mexico." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2014.
Web. 26 May 2014.
"World Savvy Monitor." History. World Savvy Monitor, 2014. Web.
27 May 2014.