Geography
How many countries are in Central America?
7
When did the Spanish colonies of Central America gain independence from Spain?
1821
What is the only peaceful country in Central America?
Costa Rica
When did Christopher Columbus set sail?
1492
Who led the slave revolt that gave Haiti its independence?
Toussaint Louverture
Which 4 islands make up the Greater Antilles?
Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico
What is ecotourism?
practice of using an area’s natural environment to attract tourists
What is the official language of most countries in Central America?
Spanish
What kind of plantation did the European colonists build in the Caribbeans?
sugarcane plantations
Why did Asians go to the Caribbean?
went to work on plantation after slavery ended
How does limited energy resources negatively impact the region?
must import energy resources which causes limited development
Which countries signed the Central American Free Trade Agreement?
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
What religion do most practise in Central America? Why do they practise it?
Roman Catholicism
Spanish missionaries taught Natives about Catholicism
Describe Carnival.
Feast & celebrations before Christian season of Lent
Big parades & fancy costumes
What is souse? How was it developed?
Made from pigs’ tail, ears, snout
Developed b/c slaveholders ate rest of pig & gave slaves leftovers
What are some crops that grow well in the region?
Coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton
How did United Fruit Company help the development of Central America?
Company developed railroads & port facilities
Helped transportation & communications in region
What is the Central American Free Trade Agreement for?
Designed to create economic stability & jobs in Central America & Dominican Republic
Reduction of taxes on imports & exports resulted in economic growth
Farmers received technical training to improve crop production
What is Puerto Rico debating about today?
Whether their island should remain US commonwealth, become American states, become independent nation
What is the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union for?
Simplify processes for investment & trading b/w Caribbeans + European Union
Promote opportunities for economic growth & job creation in Caribbeans
Why has much of the original savanna vegetation been cleared on the Pacific Coast?
to create plantations & ranches
Why is the Panama Canal important?
Fees & local industries make Canal Zone Panama’s most prosperous region
Panama Canal provides link b/w Pacific & Caribbean Sea
Why did many resent foreign companies? What happened as a result of this resentment?
Wrong that only few should own so much land while many struggled to make living
Mid to late 1900s → demands for reforms led to armed struggles in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua
What is a refugee? Why are there so many Haitian refugees?
Violence, political unrest, poverty created many political refugees
What is Cuba’s government like? How do their elections work?
Dictatorship → legislative authority lies w/ National Assembly of People’s Power
Citizens may vote for members of group
Elects president from among members
Appoint 31-member Council of State headed by president
How do hurricanes impact this region?
Bring violent winds, heavy rain, high seas
Most occur b/w June & November
Winds & flooding can cause destruction & loss of life
Which countries make up the Northern Triangle region? Why is this region dangerous?
Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador make up Central America’s Northern Triangle region
Experienced extreme levels of poverty, gang violence, organised crime
Which holiday is particularly important in Central America? How is it celebrated?
Easter particularly important holiday
Some towns decorate whole streets w/ designs made of flowers & colourful sawdust
Describe US relations with Cuba.
Gov’t took over banks, large sugarcane plantations, other businesses when Fidel Castro assumed power
Many owned by US companies
US gov’t banned trade w/ Cuba & restrict ravel
December 2014 → Obama & Raúl Castro formed agreement to mend relations
Embassies reopened, many travel restrictions lifted, trade reestablished
Some restrictions reinstated since Trump took office
Describe the relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Long history of conflict
Dispute over control of island in colonial era
2015 → Dominican gov’t asked all Haitians w/o legal papers to leave country
Some even threatened w/ violence
Many from Haiti migrated to find work in better economy
Haitians continue to cross border in search of economic opportunities