Ch. 9 Spatial Inequality in Mexico
Geoterms:
_____________________________: Worsening economic conditions in the country-side, (rising
unemployment & growing poverty).
_____________________________: The unequal distribution of wealth or resources in a geographic
area, so that some places are richer than others.
_____________________________: Level of comfort and well-being of a group or country. Developed
countries generally have a higher standard of living than developing countries.
_____________________________: Movement of people from rural to urban areas, resulting in the
growth of urban areas.
History
Aztecs

______________________________ (city) was first settled by the Aztecs

Aztecs built a beautiful city called _______________________________ (Aztec Capital)

Tenochititlán had pyramids, temples & palaces- people had a high ______________________
of living.
Spanish

____________________________ conquered Aztecs in 1521

Destroyed Aztec capital (Tenochititlán)

Built ____________________________City in its place.

Mexico City became one of most ________________________ cities in the Americas
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Unit 3 – Ch. 9
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Ch. 9 Spatial Inequality in Mexico
Mexico City

Mexico won independence from ______________________________ in 1821

_________________________________ became the capital of Mexico

Continued to grow with a blend of modern & historic buildings

No longer beautiful old city

Urbanization doubled _____________________________ in 10 years
Farming
 Due to declining conditions in the countryside, farmers move to _______________________
to find other work.
 Only about _______________% of land in Mexico is good for farming
 Remaining land is too dry, rocky & mountainous
Types of Farms
 Best land is held by _____________________ owners
 _______________________________ (ejidos): Large farms held by groups of farmers
 There are some small private farms
 Commercial farms grow food for ______________________________.
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Unit 3 – Ch. 9
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Ch. 9 Spatial Inequality in Mexico
Urban Migration
___________________________: People who move (migrate) from one area to another
 Most rural migrants headed to ___________________________ City
 In the 1970s & 1980s about ______________ people a day moved to Mexico City.
 Rate has ____________________________ as life there became more difficult.
 Many choose other cities or cross border to ______________________________.
Problems of Urbanization
 Overcrowding
 __________________________________ sewers
 Draining __________________________ to make more room for expansion
 Lack of clean ___________________________
 Traffic ______________________________
 _____________________________ buses & subways
 Pollution
 One of Mexico City’s worst problems is _______________________ pollution

Thick _____________________________

Poor air quality causes breathing problems like ______________________
 Poverty
 Not enough jobs
 Crime
 Crime has _______________________________ in Mexico City.
 Residents fear for their safety
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Unit 3 – Ch. 9
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Ch. 9 Spatial Inequality in Mexico
Haves & Have Nots
 Have Nots
 Poorest are usually recent _______________________________
 Live in slums or ________________________________
 Slums have one-room shacks with no running water or ____________________________.
 People in slums have little or no ___________________________________.
 Tenements (run down apartments) have “working poor”
 Working poor often have more than one _______________________.

Work as maids, cooks, dishwashers, street vendors, bus drivers etc.

Work long hours for little ________________________

May travel for hours by ________________________ transportation to get to jobs
 Haves – Middle & Upper Classes - Make up about _______________ of Mexico City’s population
Middle class
 live in houses, apartment buildings or modern suburbs
 Work in business, education or _____________________________
 Have some ___________________________ such as a telephone.
 Life is getting harder for middle class because of struggling ______________________
Upper class
 Very wealthy
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
Large ___________________________, leaders in ________________________ or
government

Luxurious standard of ________________________________.

Live in castle-like ________________________________.

Hire __________________________________ as maids, gardeners, & drivers.
Unit 3 – Ch. 9
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