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Mexico

Mexico Regions of Mexico Central Plateau Northern Pacific Coast Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Pacific Coast Yucatan Peninsula Central Plateau Located between the Sierra Madres Largest region in Mexico and its most important Central Plateau

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Mexico

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  1. Mexico

  2. Regions of Mexico Central Plateau Northern Pacific Coast Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Pacific Coast Yucatan Peninsula

  3. Central Plateau • Located between the Sierra Madres • Largest region in Mexico and its most important

  4. Central Plateau • Several major cities located here, largest in population • Southern point of plateau has rich soil • Plenty of rainfall; Mexico’s best farmland

  5. Central Plateau • Most geologically unstable area of country (tetonic plates) • Result of tetonic plate movement = earthquakes • Mountains southern edge = active volcanoes

  6. Central Plateau • Attractive place to live because of climate • Temperatures vary between 50-80 degrees in the south due to elevation

  7. Northern Pacific • Dry, hot, thinly populated • Tijuana - one of Mexico’s largest and fastest growing cities

  8. Northern Pacific • Some of the best farmland located here because of 3 rivers: Colorado, Sonora, Yaqui • Irrigation - artificial watering of farmland via canals

  9. Southern Pacific Coast • Sierra Madre del Sur - few opportunities for farming • Tourism very strong • Acapulco, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta

  10. Gulf Coastal Plain • Key Economic Importance • Deposits of Petroleum and natural gas beneath waters of the Gulf • One of the world’s major petroleum producing regions

  11. Yucatan Peninsula • Generally Flat, covered with layer of limestone • Water passes freely through limestone • When a cavern collapses it forms a sinkhole which individuals would then use as a well.

  12. Three Cultures of Mexico • Indian Culture • Spanish Conquerors • Modern

  13. Aztec Empire to Spanish Colony • Four social classes : • Peninsulares - Spanish person born in Spain • Criollos - People of Spanish ancestry born in the new world • Mestizos - Mixed Indian/Spanish • Indians

  14. Indians provided labor on haciendas • Haciendas - large estate owned by Spanish and often run as farms or cattle ranches • Both haciendas and Indian labor were granted to the conquistadors as rewards by the Spanish king

  15. Under the encomienda system low wages & constant debt forced most Indians to live a slave-like existence

  16. The Search for Democratic Rule • Miguel Hidalgo - called for rebellion • Search for democracy until 1920 • Mexican Revolution 1910-1920 • 1920 Democratic Republic

  17. The Search for Democratic Rule • National Government headed by elected president/congress • Unlike the US, one party has all the power

  18. Mexicans of Today • Mexico has worked to preserve Indian and Spanish heritages • Official language = Spanish • Speak ancient language at home • Nearly all Mexicans are Roman Catholic

  19. Rural Life • Involves agriculture; Nearly all farmable land is part of 8,000 haciendas

  20. Rural Life • After revolution, government broke up haciendas and divided the land amongst the landless peasants mine yours

  21. Rural Life • Reclaimed land awarded in forms of ejidos • Ejidos - farmland owned collectively by members of a rural community

  22. Rural Life • Many individuals practice subsistence farming • Subsistence Farming - raise only enough crops to meet the basic needs of one family

  23. Rural Life • ~1/3 Mexican farms are latifundios • Latifundios - huge commercial farms owned by private individuals or farming companies • Latifundios & some ejidos raise cash crops

  24. Rural Life • Cash Crops - corn, sugar cane, coffee, fruit • Most farmers have no money to buy fertilizers/machines to help harvest • Not enough land--landless turn migrant and cross the Rio Grande

  25. Patterns of Urban Life • Mexico City is the largest urban area in the world; 66% live in urban areas

  26. Patterns of Urban Life • Four levels of Urban Life: • Small-upper class: educated, travel, politically powerful • Growing-middle class: government workers, bankers, lawyers; live in apartments • Working class: skilled workers, strong ties to culture; live in adobes • Lower class: largest of the 4 classes; live in lean-tos

  27. Family Life • If you are poor/rich, you will have strong ties to your family • Family is the foundation of society

  28. Family Life • 90% of Mexicans live with family members • Family businesses act as a security blanket during rough times

  29. Economy • Tourism and oil are the two most important activities • Both are historically and geographically connected

  30. Economy • Today Mexico pushes for more tourism because it is a cleaner alternative to manufacturing, referred to as a “smokeless industry”

  31. Pollution • Breathing is as bad as smoking from birth on • Mountains trap in smog and other pollutants during dry season

  32. Pollution • 36,000 factories in Mexico, half of which are in Mexico City • 3 million cars contribute to 80% of the smog in the city • Smog would decrease by 30% if cars were tuned

  33. Urban Growth • 1,700 move to Mexico on a daily basis • 1,000 births daily • Mexico city is the largest city in the world w/ a pop. of 23 mill.

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