Chapter 7: Mexico

1. Chapter 7: Mexico Section 3: Mexico Today (page 178)

2. Essential Question How do Mexico’s four culture regions play a part in the country’s government and economy?

3. Main Ideas • Government has traditionally played a large role in Mexico’s economy. • Mexico has four distinct culture regions.

4. Government and Economy Government • Democratic government • One party (for 71 years) • Until 2000 • Vicente Fox elected president • Different political party

5. Government and Economy Economy • Government used to control most economic activity • Today, gov’t has less control of economy

6. Government and Economy Economy • Mexico is a developing country. • In the past, Mex. has struggled with debts, unemployment, & inflation • Inflation: rise in prices that occurs when currency loses its buying power.

7. Government and Economy Economy • Mex.’s economy is growing • NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement (1994) • Helped increase agricultural & industrial exports

8. Government and Economy Economy • Agriculture • Key part of Mex. Economy • Slash-and-burn: burning forest in order to clear land for planting • Cash crop: crop grown mainly to sell for a profit

9. Government and Economy Economy • Industry • Oil is an important export • Also, mining & manufacturing • Industrial centers along U.S. border • Workers assemble goods for export to the U.S. & other countries

10. Government and Economy Economy • Tourism • Colonial cities • Maya & Aztec monuments • Coastal cities & resorts

11. Mexico’s Culture Regions Though some shared cultural characteristics, Mex. Can be divided into 4 regions based on population, resources, climate & other features.

12. Mexico’s Culture Regions This is confusing: The book divides Mexico into 3 regions for physical geography (North, Central, South). But 4 regions for Cultural divisions. (North, Central, South + Greater Mexico City)

13. Mexico’s Culture Regions Greater Mexico City • Includes capital & a/b 50 smaller cities. • Mexico City world’s 2nd largest • Pop. 19M

14. Mexico’s Culture Regions Greater Mexico City • Huge pop. causes problems • Pollution • Smog: a mixture of smoke, chemicals, and fog. • Poverty • Lots of slums

15. Mexico’s Culture Regions Central Mexico • North of G.M.C. • Many cities established as mining or ranching centers during colonial period. • Also many small family farms. • Vegetables, corn, & wheat for sale.

16. Mexico’s Culture Regions Central Mexico • Lately, new industries relocated there from G.M.C. • Cities in the region, such as Guadalajara, are growing rapidly.

17. Mexico’s Culture Regions Northern Mexico • One of the country’s richest & most modern areas • Trade w/ U.S. • Many maquiladoras (U.S. & foreign-owned factories.

18. Mexico’s Culture Regions Northern Mexico • Proximity to the border has affected (changed or influenced) the region’s culture also. • Legal/illegal border crossing

19. Mexico’s Culture Regions Southern Mexico • Least populated& industrialized region • Agriculture important there • (coffee, sugarcane)

20. Mexico’s Culture Regions Southern Mexico • Slash & burn agriculture (p. 179) is common form of farming.

21. Mexico’s Culture Regions Southern Mexico • Oil production off Gulf Coast has led to pop. growth in this area. • Yucatan peninsula has also experienced growth b/c of tourism.

22. Essential Question How do Mexico’s four culture regions play a part in the country’s government and economy?

23. STANDARDS • 7.3.spi.10 identify the characteristics that define a region geographically. • • 7.3.spi.13. recognize the definitions of modifications on the physical environment (i.e. global warming, deforestation, desert, urbanization). • • 7.3.spi.18. analyze the environmental consequences of humans changing their physical environment (i.e., air and water pollution, mining, deforestation, global warming). • • 7.4.spi.1. define the different types of governments (i.e., democracy, autocracy, oligarchy, monarchy, dictatorship). • • 7.4.spi.4. identify political leaders from selected contemporary settings (i.e. United States, India, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Russia, China).