Chapter 7: Mexico
Unit 3
Section 1: Physical Geography
Landforms
• Mexico and Central America
form a land bridge between
the 2 continents of South
America and North America
• The western side of Mexico is
a part of the Ring of Fire
– Seismic activity
– Volcanoes
Landforms
• The Sierra Madre
Oriental/Occidental
– Southern portion of the
Rocky Mountains (Canada
and the US)
– 8,000-9,000 ft tall
• In the middle of the
country is the Mexican
Plateau
– Moderate, consistent
temperatures
– Great place to live!
Landforms
• Mexican Plateau:
– Mesa del Norte
• Larger than the
Central region
• Some large cities
– Mesa Central
• More populated
• Breadbasket of
Mexico
Water Systems
• Northern Mexico has a dry climate
– What landform is the exception???
• Central region has more rivers and natural
lakes
Water Systems
• Lerma River
– One of the most important rivers in the country
– Begins in the Toluca Basin west of Mexico City
– Feeds into Lake Chapala
• Largest natural lake
• Gulf of Mexico forms the east coast
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Special wild life
Shrimp
Fishing
Oil
• Gulf of California
– Special wild life
Section 2: Human Geography
History and Government
• Indigenous people lead to
much diversity in cultures,
languages, and civilizations
• Northern Mexico:
– Nomadic people
– Agriculture
– Tarahumara people
• Southern Mexico:
– Mayan Civilization
• Massive cities
• Agriculture
• Central Mexico:
– Aztec Empire
• Massive empire
• Warriors and conquerors
History and Government
• Spanish came and colonized Mexico
– After the resources:
• Gold
• Silver
• Cash crops: chocolate and corn
• Beginning in the 1700s, people began to protest
Spanish rule.
• 1821: Mexico finally won its independence
– But the country was ruled by a small group of wealthy
landowners, army officers.
– People revolted and there was panic/chaos
– Military dictators (caudillo) ruled the country for many
years.
History and Government
• Mexican Revolution finally overthrew the
caudillos and a new constitution was put into
place in 1917.
– Power divided into 3 branches of government:
• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial
• Peace didn’t last long…
History and Government
• 1929—Partido
Revolucionario
Institucional (PRI) was
elected
– Corrupt monopoly on the
political system
– Lasted 70 years
• 2000—Partido Accion
Nacional (PAN) able to
win
• 2012—PRI reelected
History and Government
• Drug Cartels
– Control various regions of
Mexico
– Power and control of drugproducing territories
– Internal warfare
– Street violence (gun battles),
massacres, terror
– Reinvest money into the
community…
Economic Activities
• Rich and the
government mainly
control the natural
resources
• Goods are imported
and exported to/from
America
• Lots of factories that
employ Mexicans, are
located in Mexico, but
the goods are for
Americans
• NAFTA
Section 3: Human-Environment
Interaction
Managing Resources
• Managing natural
resources:
–
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–
–
–
–
–
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Petroleum
Silver
Gold
Copper
Lead
Zinc
Natural Gas
Timber—Deforestation
• Urbanization and
sustainable
development
• Pollution