Latin America: Mexico

1. Latin America: Mexico

2. Mexico’s Climate & Features • Sierra Madre Moutains ☼ Occidental – West Coast☼ Oriental - East Coast • Much of Mexico is a Plateau • Desert in Northern Mexico • Volcanoes created much fertile farmland in Central Mexico • Tropical Climate in Southern Mexico • El Niño currents affect weather throughout North America

3. History of Mexico Teotihuacan: 200BC – 550AD Major trade/religious center dominated central Mexico About 250,000 citizens at its peak The Maya: 1800BC – 900AD Over 60 city-states in Southern Mexico & Central America Advanced in science, math, astronomy, & architectureThe Aztec: 1325AD – 1521AD Empire dominated the Valley of Mexico. Spanish Colony:1521 – 1810

4. Mexico’s Population Largest, most populated, and economically most developed of the Middle American nations Population - more than 100 million Most populated Spanish speaking country in the world. Land & Wealth controlled by a small percentage of the population

5. Initiated in the 1960s as coupon houses Assembly plants that pioneered the migration of industries in the 1970s Today: 4,000 maquiladoras & 1.2 million employees Modern industrial plants Assemble imported, duty-free components/raw materials Export the finished products Mostly foreign-owned (U.S., Japan) 80% of goods reexported to U.S. MAQUILADORAS

6. MAQUILADORAS Tijuana Ciudad Juarez Nogales Chihuahua Reynosa Matamoros Monterrey

7. ADVANTAGES Mexico gains jobs. Foreign owners benefit from cheaper labor costs. EFFECTS Regional development Development of an international growth corridor between Monterrey and Dallas - Fort Worth MAQUILADORAS

8. U.S. TRADE WITH CANADA & MEXICO Canada remains as the United States’ largest export market. Since 1977, Mexico has moved into second place (displacing Japan). 85% of all Mexican exports now go to the United States. 75% of Mexico’s imports originate in the United States. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) includes U.S.A., Canada, & Mexico