2. Notice these physical features: 1) a very mountainous interior
(an extension of the Rockies), 2) coastal lowlands on the Gulf and
Pacific (fertile areas), 3) the Yucatan peninsula, 4) the Baja
peninsula.
3.
4. Rainfall and topography affect growing season...
...which affects population.
Areas along both coastlines
receive the most annual
rainfall, providing lush
conditions for agriculture as
mountainous regions are far
enough inland to provide
farming areas.
The southern central highlands
receives less rainfall, but
because of altitude has a very
moderate climate with
temperatures in the 70s year
round.
5. As a result, the majority of the population lives in the southern
central highlands, and along the coast, where climate is favorable,
both for agriculture (which provides jobs) and comfort.
7. Plate Tectonics affect Mexico
Parts of Mexico are
earthquake and
volcano prone
because of the
movement of 4
different tectonic plates
in the region.
The volcanoes in
Mexico occur because
of subduction.
The earthquakes are
related to the shifting
plates.
8. Coastal Regions of Mexico
Northern Pacific Coast
includes Baja peninsula, arid,
sparsly populated.
Southern Pacific Coast
bounded closely by steep
mountians; scenic port cities;
tropical climate
Gulf Coastal Plain
wide agricultural plain; more
importantly, a source of oil
and natural gas
Yucatan Peninsula
flat land undergirded by
porous limestone; sparsely
populated; tourism along the
Caribbean coast; home of the
ancient Mayan civilization
9. Historic Mexico (1824)
Notice that Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and
Utah were all part of Mexico before they were part of the US.
10. La Plaza de las Tres Culturas
Aztec Ruins, a Spanish Church and a modern office building
11. Aztecs
Aztec Calendar
Aztec Sunstone
The Aztecs were a very sophisticated civilization that lived in south central Mexcio in the 13th
through the 15th centuries until they were conquered by Hernan Cortes in 1519. The
Spaniards had come inland from the Gulf Coast 2 years earlier, befriending enemies of the
Aztecs along the way. After defeating the Aztecs, the Spanish proceeded to conquer the
remaining native groups in Mexico, claiming the new territory for Spain.
12. The Spanish Conquistadores and New Spain
As the Spanish conquered native groups
in the 16th century, 4 social classes
emerged:
Peninsulares
people born in Spain; recieved grants of
land from the King of Spain; held high
official positions; most wealthy
Criollos
people of Spanish ancestry born in
Mexico (or the Americas); part of the
wealthy higher class
Mestizos
people of mixed ancestry (Spanish and Haciendas, large Spanish-owned estates, were
native) usually run as farms or cattle ranches. Indians
Indians provided the labor. Their welfare was in the hands of
natives of Mexico; labor class; poorest the Peninsulares and many Natives ended up living a
group slave-like existence.
13. Mexican Democracy
Miguel Hidalgo
the father of Mexico
Feudalism continuted in Mexico for more than 2 centuries. By the early
1800s, the Criollos begn to feel resentment towards the privileged
Peninsulares.
In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo called for a rebellion against Spanish Rule and sparked
a war of independence that resulted in the esablishment of the independent
nation of Mexico in 1821.
While Mexico became an independent nation, she was ruled by a series of
dictators that resulted in a series of political struggles and civil war. Even so, as
a soverign nation Mexico attracted foreign investmens. Railroads were built,
ranches were expanded, oil reserves were developed, and the rich got richer
and the poor got poorer.
14. Mexican Revolution
100 years after Hidalgo’s rebellion, peasants and
middle-class Mexcians overthrew the military
dictator and landlords who ruled the country. In
1920, after 10 years of bloody revolution, Mexico
emerged as a democratic republic with a new
Constitution and a new president.
During the Mexican Revolution, Pancho Villa led
guerrilla uprisings across the country that forced
governmental change.
15. Life After the Revolution...
most Mexicans are Roman Catholic and Spanish is the offical
language, however, a minority still hold the majority of the wealth
Prior to the Revolution in 1910, nearly all of the land suitable for farming was part of about
8000 haciendas. After the Revolution, the government began a Land Redistribution policy,
buying out the landowners, breaking up their Haciendas, and dividing land among landless
peasants. This policy continues today.
The governmental reclaimed land was awarded collectively to members of a community for
subsistence farming. These farms were known as Ejidos.
About 1/3 of all farms in Mexico are commercial farms owned by individuals or companies and
raise cash crops for profit. These farms are known as Latifundios.
Many Mexicans who neither own land nor work on a particular farm become Migrant
Workers, traveling from place to place where extra workers are needed to clutivate crops.
16. Mexican Economics
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
phased out trade barriers (tarifs) between the US, Canada and
Mexico; significantly increased trade and improved Mexican economy.
Petroleum and Tourism are Mexico’s Greatest Industries
The petroleum industry is owned by the government (PEMEX)
so as demand rises and falls, so do government revenues; rich
history, tropical beaches, and a mild climate create opportunity for
a lucrative tourism industry (Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel)
Maquiladoras
factories clustered along the US/Mexico border that assemble
products exclusively for US consumers; has led to economic and
population growth in northern Mexico
