1. Chapter 10 Section 1: Living in Latin America Agriculture Exports: Primary economic activities Wealthy landowners: Own the majority of the land. Often broken into large plantations. Campesino: Rural farmers and workers. Latifundia: Large-Scale commercial farms, now highly mechanized commercial farms. Minifundia: Small farms worked by the Campesino to feed their families. Subsistence agriculture.

2. Primary Economic Activities: Cash crops and livestock Cash Crops: include coffee, bananas, sugar cane, flowers. These crops are mostly grown on the Latifundia. Livestock: Raised in the grasslands, such as the Pampas and Llanos. Mostly Cattle. Risks If crops fail, or disease kills the animals, or renders them useless, the country would have a significant reduction of income.

3. Manufacturing Developing Countries: Many of the countries are working to increase manufacturing and add more secondary and tertiary economic activities so they may have a higher standard of living. Industrial Growth Physical Barriers: Mountains, deserts, and other physical barriers make distribution difficult. Red Tape: Government restriction. Other countries opening industry and taking away resources. Political Instability: Makes companies reluctant to invest to build up the infrastructure of these areas.

4. Maquiladoras: Foreign owned assembly plants Pros and Cons During the last 50 years American and Japanese firms have built plants in Latin American countries, many lie along the US/Mexico border. They employ many people, but people debate if they are good or bad. They provide jobs, but the pay is often low and the working conditions are not good. They often exploit the workers and ignore the environment.

5. Trade and Interdependence NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement, eliminated trade barriers. Has been controversial, many fear that it will cause loss of jobs in the US. Foreign Debt The governments of many Latin American countries borrowed money to build up their economies. During an economic slow down in the 1980’s many of these countries were unable to pay back their loans. Many of these loans were extended, but having to repay debt hurts the economies of these countries.

6. Transportation and Infrastructure Problems Physical barriers cause construction problems. Pan-American Highway: Stretches from Northern Mexico to Southern Chile and links more than a dozen capitals. The Trans-Andean Highway runs through the Andes and connects Chile and Argentina. Brazil is working on a Trans-Amazonian highway to access the resources of the rain forest. Railroads Railroads: Some countries have good railroads, but they have many of the same problems as highways.

7. Communications Many nations have media including newspapers, radio, and television. Many times the media is censored by the government during times of political unrest. Many people don’t have the internet, but this is improving. Section 2: People and Their Environment Sustainable Development Technology and human development that does not deplete natural resources. This has been a major problem in some nations. There is difficulty balancing the economic development of the country and the environment.

8. Managing Rain Forests: The Amazon Deforestation: The destruction of forests without replanting. The indigenous human and animal inhabitants of the forest have seen their homes and ways of life disappear. More than 13 percent of the Amazon rain forest has been destroyed. There are many untapped medical resources in the forest that may be lost due to deforestation. Environmental Impact Trees use Carbon Dioxide and produce Oxygen. Deforestation could lead to an increase in global warming due to higher levels of Carbon Dioxide. Deforestation also causes erosion and loss of fertile soil. Trees hold onto soil, without the root systems the rain washes the soil away.

9. Farms and Ranches vs. Forests Slash and Burn Agriculture Slash and Burn is a method of clearing the land for agriculture and grazing. A section of forest is cut down and then burned. The ash fertilizes the soil for planting of crops or grasses. Reforestation A movement to replant depleted forests. The major problem with this is that rain forest soil is thin because there is so much rain. This rain washes away minerals from the soil, and the soil itself. Because the soil washes away, it is difficult for new vegetation to grow and so the forest dies.

10. Urban Environments Overcrowding Workers migrating to cities causes overcrowding. Shantytowns: These large numbers of people spill into the areas outside of the cities creating slums and shantytowns. Air Pollution: Vehicles and factories cause massive air pollution. Mexico city has the worst air quality in the world. They had to order older cars off and road and discourage children from playing outside. Dealing with Urbanization: The world bank has donated money to provide infrastructure for these poor areas. Many cities are trying to increase affordable housing.

11. Regional and International Issues Border Disputes: Nations battle over strategic locations, and access to natural resources. Population Growth and Migration Due to education and improved heath care, birth rates are beginning to decrease. Many people have emigrated to other nations, especially the United States. This may cause a brain drain, as many intellectuals are leaving. Disaster Preparedness: This region is prone to many natural disasters including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, mudslides, and hurricanes. Many nations do not have the resources to deal with these disasters. International organizations such as the Red Cross assist in times of need.

12. Industrial Pollution Air and water pollution spill over national boundaries. Increases in manufacturing have increased pollution, this causes environmental and health problems.