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Chapter 10
Introduction to
Mexico
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Ch. 10.1 Geography of Mexico
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Objectives
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What are the main physical
characteristics that affect daily life in
Mexico’s Heartland region
How do Mexico’s four coastal plains
regions differ?
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Concepts
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Plateau
Peninsula
Irrigation
Sinkhole
What are the main physical characteristics that
affect daily life in Mexico’s Heartland region
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Physical Characteristics
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Mountain Ranges dominate Mexican Terrain
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Sierra Madre Ranges
 Occidental (western coast)
 Oriental (eastern coast)
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Central Plateau lies in between Mountain ranges
Coastal Plains Regions make up areas b.t.
Mountains and coasts.
What are the main physical characteristics that
affect daily life in Mexico’s Heartland region
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Heartland Region
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Most populous region
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Made up of large cities on the southern part of
Central Plateau
4/5s of countries people live here
Most Important Region
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Has some of Mexico’s best farmland
 Richest soils and plentiful rainfall
What are the main physical characteristics that
affect daily life in Mexico’s Heartland region
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Natural hazards
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Central Region is geologically unstable
 Located at intersection of four tectonic plates
 N.American Plate, Caribbean Plate, Pacific Plate, and Cocos
Plate
 Produces jagged mountain ranges, earthquakes, and some
active volcanoes
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Climate Factors
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Climate helps even out the geological dangers of the region
Sierra Madres block rainfall coming from the ocean in some places,
and allows moist ocean winds to bring rain to lower end of plateau
Elevation also helps keep a moderate climate year round, esp. in
Mexico City
 74 degrees in July and 70 degrees in January help attract people to
the city.
10.1
How do Mexico’s Four Coastal Plains
regions differ?
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Northern Pacific Coast
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Characteristics
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Dry, Hot, and ________-________
Sparsely- Populated
One of the wider coastal regions
__________
is one of Mexico’s fastest growing cities
Tijuana
Despite Arid climate has some of Mexico’s best farmland
 Due to good irrigation, from dams and reservoirs from 3 major rivers
 Colorado, Sonora, and Yaqui
 Wheat, Cotton among major crops
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Southern Pacific Coast
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Characteristics
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Edged by Sierra Madre del Sur
Beautiful natural setting and __________
climate make it a great
Tropical
area for
 tourism
 Sunny, wave washed beaches of Acapulco, Mazatlan, and Puerto
Vallarta draw thousands every year.
10.1
How do Mexico’s Four Coastal Plains
regions differ?
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Gulf Coastal Plains
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Characteristics
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One of wider plains regions
economy
Vitally important to Mexico’s _________
Along the plain and off-shore lies vast deposits of __________
petroleum and
______
natural gas
 Has made the Gulf coastal plain one of world’s major ____
Oil- ____________.
producers
Yucatan Peninsula
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Characteristics
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Area is generally flat (diff. than most of Mexico)
Dotted w/ a bedrock of porous __________
limestone which leads to
 Sinkholes when limestone underneath is dissolved
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10.1
Sparsely populated
________=
largest city w/ over 500,000 people
Merida
Most people of region are in the service industry of ________
tourism
 Supported by beautiful Caribbean coastline, and improvement of conditions
for tourists
 Ancient Mayan ruins attracts many tourists/archaeologists each year
Plateau
• Area of High Flat-land
10.1
Peninsula
• Strip of land that “juts” out into the ocean
10.1
Irrigation
• The watering of farm land with water drawn
from reservoirs or rivers
10.1
Sinkhole
• Hole formed when limestone is dissolved,
cause the land above to collapse
10.1
Bell Work
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Get notes and be ready right away
Schedule
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Quick Notes
Podcast Partner Hands on Geography
Podcast Project Work Time
Chapter 10 Section 2 Key Terms
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Hacienda
Land redistribution
Ejido
Subsistence farming
Latifundio
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Cash Crop
Migrant Worker
NAFTA
Maquiladora
Chapter 10 Section 2
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Objectives
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How did Mexico become a Spanish colony?
What were key political events in the
development of democracy in Mexico?
What social problems face Mexico today?
What are the main characteristics of the Mexican
Economy?
How did Mexico become a Spanish
colony?
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Spanish Conquest
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1519: Hernan Cortes marched into Tenochtitlan
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Conquistadors conquer Aztec empire within two years.
Spanish go on to conquer remaining Mexico
 Called “New Spain” New Spain
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New Spain
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Four Main Social Classes
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Life in “New Spain” followed these social lines for 300 years
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Peninsulares: Spanish born held highest ranks
Criollos: Spanish descent born in Americas (2nd in line)
Mestizos: Mixed Spanish/Indian
Indians: Native people ranked lowest
Native Americans provided labor on Haciendas ran by
Conquistadors
 Slave like conditions, with low wages and constant debt.
102 Obj.’s
What were key political events in the
development of democracy in Mexico?
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Civil War erupts
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Criollos angry at the privileged Peninsulares
Spanish priest Miguel Hidalgo calls for rebellion
By 1821: Independent nation of Mexico is established
Political Unrest
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For the next 100 years Mexico experiences political unrest
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Dictators ruled for much of 1800s after independence
End of 1800s saw Mexico become more modernized
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Increase in foreign capital and industry led to:
 RRs built, ranches expanded, and rich-poor gap widened
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Mexican Revolution
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Peasants and Middle-class Mexicans rebelled against dictators and land
owners
Ended in 1920 with a new president and constitution
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102 Obj.’s
Government promising “Land, bread, and justice for all”
Democracy continues today with an elected president and congress
What social problems face Mexico
today?
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Major root of problems lie in fact that Small part of population
control majority of wealth
Rural Life
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Majority of countryside population in agriculture
Used to be est.d in Hacienda’s which further widened Rich to
poor gap
Government wanted to create jobs/opportunities
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Land redistribution
 Divided up Hacienda’s among landless peasants
 Many in the form of Ejidos (farmland communities)
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Problems
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102 Obj.’s
3-4 Million rural Mexican families have neither land nor work
opportunities.
Leads to landless, jobless peasants to become migrant workers
What social problems face Mexico
today?
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Urban Life
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Heart of modern Mexican culture
Over 75% of population live in urban areas
Mexico City is one of largest urban areas in the
world
Offers more job/education opportunities
Majority of urban dwellers are very poor
Increasing middle-class= government workers,
professionals and business owners
What are the main characteristics of
the Mexican Economy?
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NAFTA: cut trade barriers in N. America paved way for Mexico to
pursue world trade
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Increasing trade meant the increase of industry and production
Major Industries
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Two most important industries are in oil and tourism
Oil
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Tourism
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Great petroleum reserves lie off Gulf Coast
Much of revenue depends on oil prices
Climate, scenery, and tropical beaches make resort cities great sources of
income for the nation
Also important b/c it doesn’t damage the environment much like industry
has in Mexico City
Border Industries
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102 Obj.’s
Bolster Mexican economy by placing factories along U.S. borders for
assembly and selling of goods to the U.S.
Hacienda
• Large, Spanish owned estate in the
Americas, often run as a farm or cattle
ranch.
10.2 Terms
Land Redistribution
• Large, Spanish owned estate in the
Americas, often run as a farm or cattle
ranch.
10.2 Terms
Ejido
• Farmland owned collectively by members
of a rural community
10.2 Terms
Subsistence Farming
• Farming that provides only enough for the
needs of a family or a village.
10.2 Terms
Latifundio
• A large commercial owned by a private
individual or a farming company
10.2 Terms
Cash Crop
• Farm crop grown for sale and profit
10.2 Terms
Migrant Worker
• Worker who travels from place to place,
working where extra work is needed to
cultivate or harvest crops.
10.2 Terms
NAFTA
• Agreement that phased out trade barriers
among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
10.2 Terms
Maquiladora
• Factory in Mexico, along the U.S. border,
that assembles goods for export.
10.2 Terms