Latin America?

Depending on when and who opens the 'box' Latin America means something different.

Remember:

It's a concept rather than a place. It's a variable rather than a constant. It's more diverse than it is uniform.

Calle 13 Latinoamerica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkFJE8ZdeG8

A series of actions completed by different people to show diversity & unity of Latinoamerica

Chorus

You can't buy sun, wind, rain, my happiness etc they're not for sale

Conclusion

Here we suffer together, share together, cooperate,

Despite difficulties, we keep moving forward

Latin America: A nineteenth century invention

Invented in an effort to oppose 'Latin' America to 'English' America – or Anglo-Saxon America (= USA).

Interestingly doesn't include Quebec – the 'Latin' part of Canada

Does include countries south of US including the Caribbean

Does include different languages:

Spanish Portuguese French

These are all ROMANCE ('Roman') languages

Latin America

General Characteristics

>8,000,000 sq miles >570 million people Settled by Native peoples 12,000 years ago Spanish/Portuguese 500 yrs ago Africans (forced settlement via slave trade) Other European powers 400 -200 yrs ago

The Indies (Spain and her Colonies)

Peninsular War(s) – England vs France (Napoleon)

European rivalry = instability in Indias Big push for independence in early 1800s (Simon Bolivar)

Numerous wars, insurrections, juntas, conflicts (1808 -1830s)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hisparevol.gif

Three major areas of concern relating to Latino Population of the US:

Mexico

Because it's closest to US (Shares border)

Shares distinct and related history and economy with US

Many Latinos are of Mexican origin

Cuba

Because America intervened in its war of independence

Because America was interested in gaining a colony for geopolitical reasons

Because of Fidel Castro

Because it's expatriate population is a big part of Florida pop.

Puerto Rico

Because it's a Spanish speaking (Latino) part of the US

Because it's expatriate population is an important part of N.E. US pop.

Mexico

Important Dates

Independence 1811 more or less 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico lost half its territory to the US 'seed' for the idea of Aztlan = lost lands 1806 -1872 Benito Juarez* 1911 – 1915 Mexican Revolution

Benito Juarez 1806 - 1872

President of Mexico:

1858–1861

1861–1865

1865–1867

1867–1871

1871–1872

Resisted the French occupation

Overthrew the (French) Empire

Restored the Republic of Mexico

Mexican territory taken by the US

Northern part of Mexico including Texas, N.Mexico, Arizona, California, (Gold Rush 1848), Utah, Nevada, Colorado

Cuba

Largest island in the Caribbean – some 50 miles from Florida