Central AmericaCentral America

CountriesCountries

GuatemalaGuatemala NicaraguaNicaragua BelizeBelize El SalvadorEl Salvador PanamaPanama HondurasHonduras Costa RicaCosta Rica

Landforms and ClimatesLandforms and Climates The Mountainous CoreThe Mountainous Core

• Mountains run length of C. AmericaMountains run length of C. America Highest are over 13,000 ft. Highest are over 13,000 ft.

• Transportation in area is difficultTransportation in area is difficult• Two climate zones exist hereTwo climate zones exist here

Between 3,000-6,000 ft. springtime climate year Between 3,000-6,000 ft. springtime climate year round supports agricultureround supports agriculture

Over 6,000 ft is cold year round – little vegetationOver 6,000 ft is cold year round – little vegetation Caribbean LowlandsCaribbean Lowlands

• Tropical Climate is found hereTropical Climate is found here• Rain forests are commonRain forests are common• Little agriculture is possibleLittle agriculture is possible

Climates contd.Climates contd.

Pacific Coastal PlainPacific Coastal Plain• Savanna is common hereSavanna is common here• Region only receives rain in summerRegion only receives rain in summer• Volcanic activity has given fertile soil to area Volcanic activity has given fertile soil to area

because of ashbecause of ash• Nicaragua contains many freshwater lakes that Nicaragua contains many freshwater lakes that

contain sharks and swordfishcontain sharks and swordfish Climate HazardsClimate Hazards

• Tropical Storms and Hurricanes are commonTropical Storms and Hurricanes are common

People and CulturePeople and Culture Mountains have made communication Mountains have made communication

throughout area difficultthroughout area difficult IndiansIndians

• Half the population of Guatemala are native Half the population of Guatemala are native peoplespeoples

Europeans and MestizosEuropeans and Mestizos• Europeans began settling here in 1500s after Europeans began settling here in 1500s after

the Spanish Conquestthe Spanish Conquest• Spanish is the official language in most of Spanish is the official language in most of

Central AmericaCentral America• 90% of Costa Ricans have European descent90% of Costa Ricans have European descent• Most of El Salvador and Nicaragua are mestizoMost of El Salvador and Nicaragua are mestizo

People and Culture contd.People and Culture contd.

African DescentAfrican Descent• Many Central Americans descend from Many Central Americans descend from

African slaves brought to the area in the African slaves brought to the area in the 1500s1500s

• Many people of African descent Many people of African descent migrated from the Caribbean islands in migrated from the Caribbean islands in the 1900s to work on plantationsthe 1900s to work on plantations

Wealth and PovertyWealth and Poverty

Most people are very poorMost people are very poor Most rich are plantation owners of Most rich are plantation owners of

European or mestizo descentEuropean or mestizo descent Most people of native or African Most people of native or African

descent are farmers with no land or descent are farmers with no land or low-wage laborerslow-wage laborers

Middle class is made up of small land Middle class is made up of small land owners and urban industry and owners and urban industry and service employeesservice employees

Economic ActivitiesEconomic Activities

Most Central Americans earn living Most Central Americans earn living by farmingby farming• Most live by subsistence farmingMost live by subsistence farming

Small farms grow corn, beans, and squashSmall farms grow corn, beans, and squash

• Plantations grow cash crops Plantations grow cash crops Coffee, Bananas, CottonCoffee, Bananas, Cotton

• These crops account for over half of These crops account for over half of Central America’s exportsCentral America’s exports

Political ConflictPolitical Conflict

Lack of farmland to feed the growing Lack of farmland to feed the growing population and the unequal population and the unequal distribution of land have led to distribution of land have led to conflictsconflicts

Many redistribution of land have Many redistribution of land have favored richfavored rich

People opposing these plans have People opposing these plans have started guerilla groups started guerilla groups

Political Conflict contd.Political Conflict contd.

NicaraguaNicaragua• Somoza family controlled government from Somoza family controlled government from

1936-1979 through tyranny1936-1979 through tyranny• Sandinistas overthrew the government in 1979 Sandinistas overthrew the government in 1979

and tried to set up a socialist governmentand tried to set up a socialist government• Contras began to fight against Sandinistas Contras began to fight against Sandinistas

because they were afraid of a communist because they were afraid of a communist governmentgovernment

• Fighting between two groups lasted until 1990 Fighting between two groups lasted until 1990 when a cease-fire was announcedwhen a cease-fire was announced

• A peaceful election took place in 1996A peaceful election took place in 1996• Hurricane Mitch stopped reconstruction effortsHurricane Mitch stopped reconstruction efforts

Political Conflict contd.Political Conflict contd.

El SalvadorEl Salvador• Rich landowners feared an uprising by the Rich landowners feared an uprising by the

landless poorlandless poor• They hired death squads to kill political They hired death squads to kill political

opponentsopponents• A civil war erupted from 1979 to 1992A civil war erupted from 1979 to 1992

Nearly 70,000 people diedNearly 70,000 people died

• A UN peace agreement was signed in 1992 to A UN peace agreement was signed in 1992 to end the fightingend the fighting

• Hurricane Mitch also hurt reconstruction efforts Hurricane Mitch also hurt reconstruction efforts herehere

Political Conflict contd.Political Conflict contd. GuatemalaGuatemala

• Country was ruled by military dictators after gaining Country was ruled by military dictators after gaining independence in 1821independence in 1821

• A liberal government was elected after World War II led A liberal government was elected after World War II led by Jorge Ubicoby Jorge Ubico

• A civil war erupted in the 1960s A civil war erupted in the 1960s Death Squads were used to control the people Death Squads were used to control the people Over 150,000 people died with 40,000 missingOver 150,000 people died with 40,000 missing

• A civilian government under Jorge Elias was overthrown A civilian government under Jorge Elias was overthrown by the military in 1993by the military in 1993

• Congress elected Ramiro Carpio who tried to restore Congress elected Ramiro Carpio who tried to restore peace peace

• The civil war ended in 1996 and the first free elections The civil war ended in 1996 and the first free elections took place in 1999took place in 1999