Spanish & Portuguese Exploration & Colonization
Explain one reason why these countries wanted new trade routes instead of using old ones.
Answer: Old routes were controlled by others / too expensive / dangerous → new routes meant more profit and control
Old routes were controlled by others or were too expensive/dangerous → new routes meant more profit and control.
Clue: European languages are dominant in Latin America today.
What is one reason for this?
Colonization by Spain and Portugal
Clue: Millions of Africans were forced to the Americas.
What was this system called?
Transatlantic Slave Trade
Clue: Cuba became communist after a revolution.
Who was the leader of this revolution?
Fidel Castro
Clue: Some Latin American countries produce illegal drugs
What is one reason this happens?
Poverty, lack of jobs
Explain how this division affected the languages spoken today.
Spain controlled most areas → Spanish spoken; Portugal controlled Brazil → Portuguese spoken
Clue: Roman Catholicism is the main religion in Latin America.
Explain how this connects to colonization.
Missionaries converted indigenous people.
Clue: Enslaved Africans worked on plantations.
Why were plantations important to European countries?
Produced cash crops for profit (sugar, tobacco, etc.)
Clue: The United States and Cuba have had tense relations.
Why did the U.S. oppose Cuba after the revolution?
Cuba became communist (Cold War conflict)
Clue: Drug cartels have power in some areas.
How does this affect people living there?
Answer: Violence, unsafe communities
Explain one effect this had on indigenous populations.
Loss of land, disease, forced labor, population decline
Clue: Cultural diffusion occurred during colonization.
Give one example of cultural diffusion in Latin America.
Language, religion, food, music blending
Clue: African culture influenced Latin America.
Give one example of this influence.
Music, food, religion, language
Clue: Many Cubans left their country.
Explain one reason people migrated after the revolution.
Political oppression, lack of freedom, economic issues
Clue: The U.S. is involved in stopping drug trade.
Explain one way the U.S. tries to reduce drug trafficking.
Answer: Laws, aid, enforcement, border control
Why were missionaries important to colonization?
They spread Christianity and helped Spain/Portugal control people culturally.
Clue: Social classes formed during colonization.
How did this system create inequality?
Europeans had power; natives and Africans had fewer rights
Clue: The slave trade connected three regions.
Explain how the triangular trade worked.
Goods → Africa, enslaved people → Americas, crops → Europe
Clue: The U.S. placed restrictions on Cuba.
What is one effect of this policy on Cuba?
Economic hardship, limited trade
Clue: The drug trade impacts migration.
Explain how violence can lead to migration to the U.S.
Answer: People leave unsafe areas seeking safety.
Explain ONE way Europe benefited and ONE way the Americas were harmed.
Europe gained wealth/resources; the Americas lost land/people.
Clue: Colonization still impacts Latin America today.
Explain one long-term effect that still exists.
Language, religion, inequality, economic systems
Language, religion, inequality, economic systems.
Clue: Enslavement had lasting effects.
Explain one long-term impact on Latin American societies.
Cultural diversity, inequality, racism, economic systems
Clue: The Cuban Revolution still affects relations today.
Explain how past events shape current U.S.–Cuba relations.
Continued tension, cautious diplomacy, trade limits
Clue: Poverty, drugs, and migration are connected.
Explain how these three issues influence each other.
Poverty → drug trade → violence → migration