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Ms. Soles
Social Studies
Lesson 18
South America: ARGENTINA
It’s time for a guided tour of the exciting South American country:
ARGENTINA!
Lesson Objectives
1) Learn about the geography of Argentina.
2) Find out how geography has affected the way people live in this country.
3) Discover what groups make up the people of Argentina and what their lives are like.
Where in the world is Argentina?
•The Argentine Republic (Spanish: República Argentina), commonly known as Argentina, is a sovereign country located in southeastern South America. Argentina is made up of 23 provinces.
It is second in extent on the South American continent to Brazil and eighth in the world. Argentina occupies a continental surface area of 2,766,890 square kilometres (1,068,300 sq mi) between the Andes mountain range in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east and south.
•The Argentinean Andes contain some of the tallest mountains in South America, including Cerro Bonete 6,872, Ojos del Salado 6,893 m, Cerro Mercedario 6,768 m, and Cerro Aconcagua, which at 6,960 m is the tallest peak on the continent and in the entire Western Hemisphere
•The Andes region is also home to arid basins, lush foothills covered with grape vineyards, glacial mountains, and half of the Los Lagos Region (Lake District) (the other half is in Chile).
•The Lake District, named for the many glacial lakes carved out of the mountains and subsequently filled by melt-water and rain, is located in the southern Andes and boasts a diverse natural landscape of glaciers, native old growth forests, lakes, rivers, fjords, volcanoes, and sentinel mountains.
Let’s take a look at some of the breathtaking
waterfalls!
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=9961
• Patagonia, the southern region of Argentina, is a combination of pastoral steppes and glacial regions. Located in this region near the Chilean border is Parc Nacional Los Glaciares (Glacier National Park ), where some 300 glaciers make up part of the Patagonian Ice Cap (21,760 km2).
•The ice cap, flowing into the Pacific oceans from the Andes, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere outside of Antarctica.
Observe the massive glaciers and some amazing
melting!
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=5041
Basic facts About Argentina
Capital: Buenos AiresLand Area: 1,056,636 sq.
mi./2,736,690 sq. km.Population: 37.8 million (2009)Ethnic group(s): white,
mestizo, indigenous IndianReligion(s): Roman Catholic,
protestant, Jewish
Government: RepublicCurrency: Argentine PesoLeading exports: Fuels and
energy, edible oils, cereals, feed, motor vehicles
Languages: Spanish (official), Italian, indigenous Indian languages
History of Argentina
Originally, Argentina was inhabited by groups of Natives that had migrated there thousands of years ago. They lived in groups, hunting game in the pampas area and farming the more northern region.
Cueva de las Manos, over 10,000 years old, is among the oldest evidence of indigenous culture in the Americas.
Evidence found in Patagonia.
Colonial Period:1527-1816
The first Spanish settlement in modern Argentina was the Fort of Sancti Spiritu established in 1527 next to the Paraná River. Buenos Aires, a permanent colony, was established in 1536 but was destroyed by natives. The city was established again in 1580.
The settlements were organizedunder the system: “encomienda”.Under this system, the Spanishmonarch gave land to the colonists.Landowners were granted the rightto force natives living there to workthe land.
The Pampasbecame anImportantAgriculturalregion. Thegauchos
herdedcattle andhorses.
Independence Argentine War of Independence
was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown. On July 9, 1816, an assembly met and declared full independence with provisions for a national constitution.
A long period of instability and violence was involved in achieving independence. Many of the native people, especially in the Pampas, were killed. As a result, there is a small population of them in Argentina today.
Modern Argentina
More and more immigrants came to Argentina in the late 1800’s. Most were Italians, Germans, and Spaniards. The economy grew, due to exports of meat and farm product.
The 20th Century Argentina
Throughout much of this century, Argentina had many struggles under dictators and military governments. Human rights were abused and the economy and people suffered.
One example of the 20th century leaders was General Juan Peron. His rule began rather successfully with wages and working conditions improving. His wife, Eva, was instrumental in women gaining the right to vote.
However, within two years, Argentina’s economy declined. Inflation grew to 50%, the money, peso, lost about 70% of its value. Peron’s foreign policy became more isolationist, as he increased censorship and repression.
A bombing of Plaza de Mayo was followed some months later by a violent coup which deposed him in 1955. He fled into exile, eventually residing in Spain.
The following leaders, Frondizi until 1962, and Illia until 1966 were also unsuccessful, each resulting in forced resignations. The following regime showed improved economic policies, however, repressiveness led to its end.
A free election was held and Peron was re-elected, returning to rule, only to die shortly and leave his wife, Isabel, to succeed him. (Eva had died much earlier). Conflict and instability continued until she was also removed from office.
• The Argentine military seized political power during the March 1976 coup, amid violent factional conflicts between supporters of recently deceased President Perón.
•The junta continued the Dirty War. After losing the Falklands War to the United Kingdom in 1982, mounting public opposition to the junta led to its relinquishing power in 1983.
•The Falklands War, also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom (UK) over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Falkland Islands consist of two large and many small islands in the South Atlantic Ocean east of Argentina;
As Argentina lost the war:
1) Islanders British citizenship restored.
2) Lifestyle improved by British investments.
3) A new constitution promoting self-government.
4) Return of democracy, (free elections), 1st in 10 years.
Argentina Today
In 1983, Argentina also returned to democracy. However, as much the world, by the late 1900’s and early 2000’s, they fell into economic crisis, as well as political conflict. During 2001, the leadership changed four times.
•Argentina has recently been enjoying economic growth, though with high inflation. Néstor Kirchner forfeited the 2007 campaign, in favor of his wife Senator Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who became the first woman to be elected President of Argentina.
Let’s pretend that we are on a tour of Argentina’s capital
city----
http://visiteurope.compulsivetraveler.tv/videos/452-Destination-Unknown-Buenos-Aries-Argentina
Notice evidences of the culture: art, architecture, music, religion, etc.
That’s our tour of Argentina! Next, we’ll visit
the country Bolivia!
Resources
http:///www.wikipedia.orgwww.GoogleEarth.comhttp://
www.watchknowlearn.orghttp://
www.Compulsivetraveller.tv
