Chapter 14 The Caribbean and the West Indies

1. Chapter 14 The Caribbean and the West Indies 6th Grade Social Studies

2. CHAPTER 14 Central America and the Caribbean Islands Section 1:Physical Geography Section 2:Central America Section 3:The Caribbean Islands

3. Caribbean Islands Map

4. Map of Central America

5. Main Ideas, Section I, Physical Geography • The Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles are the two major island groups that make up the Caribbean archipelago. • A curved archipelago • Earthquakes and volcanic activity frequent • Most Central Americans live in the highland climates because they are more moderate. • Coffee, bananas, cotton and sugarcane are some of the region’s crops.

6. Main Ideas (continued) • Bridge between North and South America • No place more than 125 miles from the sea • Mountains separateCaribbean and Pacific coastal plains

7. Central American Climates (sect.1) • Humid tropical plains, rain forests, highland climates, tropical savanna, cloud forests Caribbean Climates • Humid tropical, tropical savanna • Hurricanes are common.

8. Natural Resources (sect.1) • Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton • Timber • Tourism • Jamaica is rich in bauxite (aluminum ore).

9. Vocabulary • archipelago(ahr-kuh-PE-luh-goh) A large group of islands • cloud forestA high-elevation, very wet tropical forest where low clouds are common • bauxiteThe most important aluminum ore

10. SECTION 1 Landforms Bodies of Water Climates Resources Physical Geography Physical Geography of Central America and the Caribbean Islands Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, Lake Nicaragua, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico natural land bridge (isthmus). archipelago, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Cocos plate, Caribbean plate mild highland, humid tropical, tropical savanna land for agriculture, timber, bauxite, copper, natural beauty

11. Landscape of Mexico and Central America (6:37)

12. Geography of the Caribbean (25:00)

13. Main Ideas, Section II, Central America, Early History • Spain and Great Britain had Central American colonies by the late 1600s. • Large Maya civilizations • European colonies formed in 1500s; Indians forced into labor

14. Central America’s Early History, sect. 2 (continued) • Enslaved Africans brought over • Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua establish independence by 1839; Panama in 1903; Nicaragua in late 1800s; Belize in 1981

15. The History and the People Today, section 2 (continued) • Mestizos—the largest ethnic group • Spanish, Indian languages, and English all spoken • Roman Catholics, Indian religious influences, and Protestants present • Elected governments

16. Central American Countries Today, section 2 (continued) • Guatemala—large Maya population; coffee, cardamom; civil unrest since 1960s • Belize—population of 236,000; heavy tourism • Honduras—Rugged terrain; fruit exports • El Salvador—fertile soil; coffee, sugarcane; poverty

17. (continued)Central American Countries Today • Nicaragua—rebuilding after civil war; fledgling democracy • Costa Rica—stable government; coffee, bananas; ecotourism • Panama—prospers from canal fees; heavy U.S. influence

18. Vocabulary • cacao(kuh-KOW) A small tree on which cocoa beans grow • dictatorsPeople who rule a country with complete authority • cardamomA spice used in Asian foods

19. Vocabulary (cont.) • civil warA conflict between two or more groups within a country • ecotourismThe process of using an area’s natural environment to attract tourists

20. SECTION 2 BeforeEuropean Conquest AfterEuropean Conquest Central America Aspects of Central American Culture • Central American Indian peoples • Indian languages • Indian religions • native food crops • mestizos, people of Indian ancestry • Spanish and English languages • Christianity • corn, sweet potatoes, hot peppers, tomatoes, and cacao • saints’ feast days

21. Guatemala Coffee (5:08)

22. Disappearing Forests (5:02)

23. Main Ideas, Section 3, The Caribbean Islands • European powers established colonies in 1492 and continuing into the 1600s and 1700s. • Most of the region’s population is of African and/or European descent. • Cubans and Haitians come to the U.S. for relief from corrupt politics and unstable economies.

24. Section 3 Caribbean’sHistory • 1492—Columbus arrives and names the West Indies; Spanish colonies established; disease kills many Indians • 1600–1700s: English, French, Dutch, Danish colonies established • Independence declared from 1804 to last half of 1900s

25. Vocabulary • SanteríaA religion, with origins in Cuba, that mixes West African religions and traditions with those of Roman Catholicism • calypsoA type of music with origins in Trinidad and Tobago • reggaeA type of music with origins in Jamaica

26. Vocabulary (cont.) • merengueThe national music and dance of the Dominican Republic • guerrillaAn armed person who takes part in irregular warfare, such as raids • refugeesPeople who flee to another country, usually for economic or political reasons

27. Vocabulary (cont.) • cooperativesOrganizations owned by their members and operated for their mutual benefit • plantainsA type of banana used in cooking • commonwealthA self-governing territory associated with another country

28. Section 3 The Caribbean Today (continued) • Puerto Rico—U.S. commonwealth; developed economy • Other islands—Jamaica; St. Kitts; many islands are territories of other countries

29. SECTION 3 The Caribbean Islands The Caribbean Islands Government and Economics People and Culture History Cuba • taken from Spain by the United States in 1898 • gained independence in 1902 • communist government • trade with United States restricted • farms organized into cooperatives • sugarcane, tourism • most populous country in region • origin of Santería Haiti • densely populated • many refugees in United States • won independence from France in 1804 • poorest country in Americas • many corrupt governments • coffee, sugarcane, plantains Dominican Republic • former Spanish colony • education, health care, and housing are improving • more development than Haiti • agriculture, tourism Puerto Rico • former Spanish colony • commonwealth of United States • most developed island in region • debate over its future

30. CHAPTER 14 Chapter Wrap-Up 1. What two main island groups make up the Caribbean archipelago? 2. When did European powers begin establishing colonies in Central America and the Caribbean islands? What were some effects on the region? 3. Which is the most populous country in Central America? in the Caribbean? 4. What are some musical styles with origins in the Caribbean? What influence have they had abroad? 5. How is the government of Cuba organized?