Chapter 11Central America and the Caribbean

7 Countries Guatemala Belize El Salvador Honduras Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama

Location Central America is located between two

continents. Located between North and South America Isthmus- A narrow strip of land with water

on both sides

Land Forms and Climate Regions Three Major Land Forms and Climate

Regions

1. The Mountainous Core2. The Caribbean Low Lands3. The Pacific Coastal Plain

Mountainous Core Runs the length of Central America Has many active volcanoes There are 2 climate zones

-Spring temperatures-Colder temperatures (Frost)

Caribbean Low Lands Tropical-wet climate Hot and humid all year long Heavy rain fall

Pacific Coastal Plain Tropical wet and dry climate Savannah, grassland and vegetation Volcanic ash makes soil extremely fertile

Climatic HazardsHurricanes can occur in summer and early

fall.The most traumatic hurricane was Hurricane

Mitch in 1998.-Honduras was hit the hardest.

People and Cultures There are several ethnic groups in Central

America. The land forms, especially the mountains

have made it difficult for them to communicate.

Three types of People and Cultures Indians Europeans and Mestizos African Descent

Indians Indians

Lived the longest in Central America Each group has it’s own distinct history, culture

and language. Make up more than half the population in

Guatemala.

Europeans and Mestizos Spanish is the official language in almost all

of Central America. This happened in the 1500s when Spaniards

conquered and colonized the region.-Largest European settlement is in Costa Rica.-Mestizos are people of mixed European and

Indian background.-El Salvador and Nicaragua have large Mestizo

populations.

African Descent Mainly reside on the Caribbean coast. Some are descendants of slaves Came to work on Banana plantations and

the building of the Panama Canal.

Wealth and Poverty The majority of the population lives in

poverty. Includes millions of farmers and factory workers

who have little or no land. Most are people of Indian and African descent.

Middle to Upper Class The middle class includes farmers who own

small, noncommercial farmland. Urban industry The wealthy are farm and land owners. The other half dominate government and

politics.

Main Economic Activity Farming

In Guatemala and Honduras, 50 percent of people work on farms.

Rural population-subsistence farming Pay their workers low wages Export to other countries.

Political Conflict Armed conflicts have troubled Central

America for much of its history. Opponents of those governments have

sometimes organized guerilla movements. Guerilla- armed forces outside the regular army,

who often fight in small bands.

Nicaragua 1936-1979 the Somoza family controlled

Nicaragua through corrupt means. In 1979, the Somoza’s were overthrown by

the Sandinistas. 1990 the country started to become

peaceful.

El Salvador Between 1979 and 1992, El Salvador was

the scene of a bloody civil war.

The war was ended in 1992.

Guatemala The most populous country in Central

America.

Civil war erupted in the 1960s.

It wasn’t until 1996 that the country signed a peace accord.

Section 2: The Caribbean Physical Characteristics

*The Caribbean islands consist of 3 island

groups:

1. The Greater Antilles2. The Lesser Antilles3. The Bahamas

The Antilles’ and the Bahamas

Include the 4 largest islands of the region Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico

The lesser Antilles from an archipelago, (a group of Islands) and separates the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic ocean.

The Bahamas includes nearly 700 islands northeast of Cuba.

Island Formations Mountainous Islands

Volcanic Mountains

Flat terrain are considered coral Islands (Created by the remains of colonies of tiny, soft bodied sea animals called coral polyps.

Marine Climate The climate is affected by sea and wind.

On the windward northern and eastern sides of the island it can rain 200 inches a year.

The leeward sides-facing away from the wind-rainfall may be 30 inches a year.

Ethnic Roots African Descent

Europeans brought millions of enslaved Africans to the Caribbean to do work on plantations

Growing and harvesting Sugar Cane Laborers'

Caribbean culture has been greatly influenced by Africans.

Calypso music Bright colored accessories and clothes.

Asian Immigrants Most are descendents of East and South

Asia. Came voluntarily to work in 19th century.

Caribbean Nations Today About 90 percent of the Caribbean’s

population live in independent countries.

Many other Caribbean islands are still politically linked to European countries or the United States.

Economic Activities Depend on Agriculture Farming

Sugar, bananas, coconuts, cocoa, rice & cotton Other Forms of Industry

Refining sugar, packaging coconut, rice products, textiles, tourism, and shipping products for export.

Migration Unhappiness at Home

Government Environmental Conditions

Economic Benefits Migrant workers may send money home