January 11, 2011
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Chapter 6 Lesson 1
Vocabulary
Chapter 6 Lesson 1
Mountains, Volcanoes, Islands, and Hurricanes
Central America
archipelago
a chain of islands
Ring of Fire
the circle of volcanoes around the
Pacific Ocean
coniferous
a kind of cone-bearing tree
trade wind
wind blowing almost constantly from
the northeast toward the equator
cay
a tiny, low-lying island or coral reef
coral
the skeletal remains of tiny sea animals
* The Pacific Lowlands - The lowlands in the west are
mostly swampy; the reed-filled marshes of the area
* Central America is made up of seven countries
* The Atlantic Lowlands - filled with tropical rain forests and
beaches
* Pacific Ocean lies on the west and the Caribbean Sea to the
east
* Banana crops are important exports to world markets
* Geographically there are three distinct features - two areas
of lowlands with rugged mountains in between
* The Coastal Lowlands have a tropical climate with plenty
of rain
* The chain of mountains is called The Ring of Fire, a circle
of active volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean
* Isthmus of Panama - narrowest point in the country where
a human-made waterway, the Panama Canal, connects the
Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
*Volcanic eruptions are a constant worry and concern
* The ashes from these volcanoes keep the soil fertile
permitting plantations and large farms to prosper.
* The Panama Canal cost $380 million, the country of
Panama owns and operates the canal as an important
waterway for world trade opportunites
January 11, 2011
The Greater Antilles
* The Greater Antilles includes the four large islands of
1)Cuba, 2) Hispaniola, 3) Jamaica, and 4) Puerto Rico
* The terrain is very versatile; rugged and steep, but is
mainly a highland
* Northeast side of the islands get the most rain because
of prevailing winds
* Cuba is about the size of Tennessee, is located only about
90 miles from Florida, has a varied landscape and consists
of the main island of Cuba and approx. 1,600 smaller islands
* The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-third of
Hispaniola and Dominican of Haiti occupies one-third on the
western side
* Jamaica is the 3rd largest island and has mountains and plenty
of rain fall.
* Puerto Rico is near the size of Delaware
The Lesser Antilles
* Divided into two groups: the Leeward Islands and the
Windward Islands - divided by the trade winds of the area
* Northern Islands of the Virgin Islands to Dominica are
the Leeward Islands named because they are in the lee, or
sheltered from, the trade winds
* Southern Islands from Martinique to Grenada are the
Windward Islands because they face the northeast trade
winds
* Milder climate is in the Lesser Antilles because of the
trade winds, making these islands more susceptible to
hurricanes which grow in strength over the warm waters
near the equator
* Except during hurricane season in late summer, the
climate is warm and sunny
Chapter 6 Lesson 2
Vocabulary
The Bahamas
* The Bahamas are the northern most group of islands
in the Caribbean
mulatto
a person of African and European
background
* The Bahamas are made up of almost 700 islands and
2,400 cays
commercial farming
a kind of agriculture in which crops are
raised for sale
* 20 of the Bahama Islands are inhabited by people
abolish
to end
* Most of the population is on two main islands Grand Bahama and New Providence
indentured servant
a person who agrees to work for a
certain period of time, often in
exchange for travel expenses
* There is little farming on the islands because they
are so narrow and have very little fertile soil
Columbian exchange
* Hardwood forests found on the islands are an
important resource for trade
the movement of people, animals,
plants, diseases, and ideas between
Europe and the Americas in the 1400s
and 1500s
legacy
Chapter 6 Lesson 2
Influences of the Past
In the Caribbean
* AD 1300 - 1400 three native groups lived in the Caribbean:
Arawaks, Caribs, and Ciboneys
* The Ciboneys - first group to the islands
* The Arawaks - 200 BC and AD 100, settled mostly in the
Greater Antilles
* The Caribs - took over the Arawaks and adopted their traits
anything handed down from an
ancestor
* The Spanish forced many of the Arawaks people to become slaves on
their plantations
* Later they brought Africans to work on the plantations as slaves
* Colonists from European countries started to arrive in the 1600s and
settled mainly into the Lesser Antilles (3rd Hour)
* In 1670 Spain gave up Jamaica to England
* In 1697 the French took control of the island Hispaniola and named it
St. Domingue
* 1492 Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas
* The French and English also brought slaves from Africa to help on
the plantations as well (4th Hour)
* Spanish settlers settled primarily in Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto
Rico
* So many Africans lived in early Cuba that in 1775 one-fourth of the
Cuban population was African.
* Spanish settlers were miners of minerals and farmers of
sugarcane on large plantations
* In the 1800s sugar production and sale bottomed out, many
plantations closed and slavery was abolished on many of the islands
January 11, 2011
In Central America
* The Mayans were an important Native American group in Central
America.
* They were located in present day Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and
Honduras.
* They were a wealthy and innovative civilization.
* The Spanish established plantations in Central America,
however most farmers are subsistence farmers ~ they grow only
the food they need for their families.
* Even after slavery was abolished plantations remained
important to Central Americas economy. Coffee, banana and
cotton crops are important to these wealthy plantation owners.
* By AD 900 the Mayan civilization began to decline. Most Mayan
descendants live in Guatemala and wear traditional Mayan clothing, speak
Mayan languages, and live in communities that follow Mayan ways.
* Mestizos make up a broad number of the Central America
population as well as people of African American descent making
a wide blend of people and cultures.
* In the 1500s Spanish influence hit Central America. Spanish
missionaries were setting up schools and converting people to the Roman
Catholic religion.
* This is a result of the vast movement of people, plants, animals
ideas from the Eastern and Western hemispheres called
Columbian exchange.
* Most people in Central America are Roman Catholic and speak spanish,
only in Belize is the official language English.
* The exchange of people and food remain a defining cultural
legacy for the people of Central America.
* Foods the Spanish, Americans, Europeans brought to Central
American changed the way these people ate.
Chapter 6 Lesson 3
Vocabulary
limited government
a government in which everyone,
including those in authority, must obey
the laws
unlimited government
a government in which no limits are
imposed on the ruler's authority
federation
a union of groups or states under central
authority
states' rights
the idea that individual states have final
authority over the national, or central
government
guerilla
a member of a small group of soldiers
who are not part of the regular army
* The most important food exchange from the Untied States were
potatoes and maize.
* The Columbian exchange also involved the exchanging of
livestock such as pigs, cattle, and horses. Pigs are an especially
important food to this region.
civil war
a war in which groups of people from
the same place or country fight one
another
petition
a written request for action, signed by
many people
communism
a governing and economic system in
which all property and all means of
production belong to the people as a
group
self-government
dependency
Chapter 6 Lesson 3
Contrasts in Government
Central America has experienced a limited and
unlimited governmental systems in its history.
Central America's Political Past
* Except for Belize and Panama the remaining Central American
countries became independent in 1821.
* Belize continued being a British colony and Panama belonged to
Columbia.
* Mexico united with the independent countries for a period of two years.
a system of government in which people
govern themselves
an area and its people dependent upon
another country
* After two years the Central America countries formed a federation and
called themselves the United Provinces of Central America.
* Arguments over the type of government began - Did they want a strong
central government or states' rights? was the question.
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Democracy in Central America
* A constitution supporting states' rights was passed and adopted in
1824, it also abolished slavery in Central America, and ended special
privileges for large landowners.
* Disagreements persisted and the independent countries broke apart
bringing an end to the United Provinces of Central America and by
1830 the countries each became an independent republic.
* Today all of the seven countries that make up Central America
are democracies.
* Belize became independent from Britain in 1981 and is a
parliamentary democracy.
* A Prime Minister is chief executive with the help of its cabinet.
* Dictatorship was prevalent during this time as the power of the
wealthy landowners increased.
* Costa Rico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama are
all republics like the US.
* Dictatorships took control of the government resulting in guerrilla
warfare. This was violent and sudden changes in the government.
* Panama became independent from Columbia in 1903.
* Civil Wars became common.
* Changes have taken place in the last number of years. President
Oscar Arias Sanchez won the Nobel Peace Prize for his attempt to bring
peace to the region.
* These countries all have three branches to their government.
* These countries have the traits of democracies; free elections,
majority rule, participation of political parties, and guarantee of
individual rights. These rights include free speech, equality before
law, rights to own property, to assemble and to petition for
government action.
Governing the Caribbean
* Haiti won its independence from France in 1804 and controlled
Hispaniola until 1844 when it declared its independence.
* By the 1800s many countries were less interested in the colonies in
the Caribbean. This is when the United States became involved.
* Cuba and the United States united against Spain to help Cuba win its
independence in 1898. After winning the Spanish-American War Cuba
became independent and Puerto Rico became an American colony.
* In 1952 Puerto Rico adopted a constitution and became a
commonwealth of the United States. Puerto Ricans are American
citizens.
* The Virgin Islands became a self-governing dependent territory of
the United States in 1954.
* Britain, France and the Netherlands also have dependencies in the
Caribbean. They are not completely self-governing.
* In 1917 the United States purchased from Denmark what is now
called the United State Virgin Islands.
* Dictators continued to rule Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic
in the early 1900's but in 1959 guerilla leader Fidel Castro overthrew
the dictators. He introduced Communism to the people of Cuba.
* There have been attempts since in history to have Haiti and the
Dominican Republic set up democracies but economic and social issues
persist making the change difficult.
Review
VOCABULARY - all words will be on the test
Senteo Multiple Choice Format - 22 Points
Map of Central America -
Mexico
Matching Format - 7 Points
Belize
Map of the Caribbean -
Matching Format - 7 Points
Honduras
Mexico City
Central America Video
Note Taking - 5 Points
Guatamala
Quiz - 10 Points
MAIN IDEAS - Central America Basic Facts
Senteo True and False Format - 5 Points
RECALLING INFORMATION ~ What do you know about???????
The Columbian Exchange, The Panama Canal, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Fidel Castro, the
Panama
EL Salvador
Nicaragua
Geographic features of Central America and the Caribbean, Politics in Central America, Past Natives
of the Caribbean
Senteo Multiple Choice - 14 Points
TEST YOUR SKILLS - Making a Thought Decision
Short Answer Format - 2 Questions/5 Points each - 10 Points
SEQUENCING EVENTS - Short excerpt included
Chart and 6 Point Essay - 10 Total points
TOTAL ~ 90 Points
Note Cards - 10 Points
Costa Rica
January 11, 2011
_____Cuba
_____ Bahamas
1
_____ Dominican Republic
_____ US Virgin Islands
_____ Bermuda
_____ Jamaica
8
_____Puerto Rico
2
3
13
4
5
6
12
7
11
9
10
______ British Virgin Islands _____ Windward Islands
______ Dutch Leeward Islands
______Caicos Islands
______ Leeward Islands
______ Grand Caymen Island