1. United Mexican States Estados Unidos Mexicanos United Mexican States

2. General Information ~people and places Capital is Mexico City, largest city Leon, known for having Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ sanctuary Guadalajara, second largest city, center of all Mexican culture People Population if 113,724,226 as of July 2011 Average life expectancy 78 Most spoken language- Spanish

3. Government Federal Republic or a form of government made up of a federal state with a constitution and self-governing subunits President: Felipe Calderon

4. Geography Three times the size of Texas Surrounded by the Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico Mountains and coastal plains climate Hot. Mostly desert.

5. General Information FACTS Enormous oil and gas reserves especially off the coasts. Many minerals such as zinc, gold and copper Mexican flag: Main food staple is maze or corn that make food items like tortilla shells.

6. Brief History of Mexico Before the Spanish arrived in 1519, Mexico was occupied by large groups of Indians. Flag: “The Aztecs migrated into the Mesa Central from the north and fulfilled a tribal prophesy by establishing a city where an eagle with a snake in its beak rested on a cactus. This became the national symbol of Mexico and adorns the country's flag and official seal” Hernando Cortez eventually conquered the Aztecs for the Spaniards around 1521. Before the Spanish arrived in 1519, Mexico was occupied by large groups of Indians. Flag: “The Aztecs migrated into the Mesa Central from the north and fulfilled a tribal prophesy by establishing a city where an eagle with a snake in its beak rested on a cactus. This became the national symbol of Mexico and adorns the country's flag and official seal” Hernando Cortez eventually conquered the Aztecs for the Spaniards around 1521.

8.  Multiple prison battles happened due to people wanting to gain control of Mexico through the drug and gain alliances  The chemicals used to help break up oil have been proven to harm sea life. Unsure how to find a happy medium, either stop using chemical or wait for strong winds to dissipate the oil.  Drug cartels taking over Mexico

9. Why the US? The quality of life between the two countries Mexico is poverty stricken Drug problems What is the US doing about it? The southern states (Alabama and some of Texas) are creating a law that in a nutshell are taking people who look Mexican and deporting them if they cannot show green card. FOCUS

10. How is it affecting Mexicans in the US? signing papers for attorneys, to make sure American born children are taken care of and stay out of foster homes. Afraid to go to work Children that were born in the US for a better life are being pulled from school to hide their illegal living. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/09/alabama-immigration- law_n_1002394.html How is it affecting the US and how are they trying to stop it? Hired people are guarding the border (Border Control Agents), but they don’t always live.

11. Assaults on Border patrol Agents Assaults on Border Patrol agents with rocks increased 82 percent from 2006, but all other types of assault decreased.

12. Works Cited  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/countrytemplate_mx.html https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/countrytemplate_mx.html  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/federal+republichttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/federal+republic  http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/5-general-information-on-mexico http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/5-general-information-on-mexico  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/09/alabama-immigration- law_n_1002394.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/09/alabama-immigration- law_n_1002394.html  http://history-world.org/mexico.htm http://history-world.org/mexico.htm  http://www.carpenoctem.tv/military/cortes.html http://www.carpenoctem.tv/military/cortes.html  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10758421 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10758421  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10759450 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10759450  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/world/americas/mexican-immigrants- repeatedly-brave-risks-to-resume-lives-in-united-states.html?ref=mexico http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/world/americas/mexican-immigrants- repeatedly-brave-risks-to-resume-lives-in-united-states.html?ref=mexico

13.  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/world /americas/mexican-immigrants-repeatedly- brave-risks-to-resume-lives-in-united- states.html?ref=mexico http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/world /americas/mexican-immigrants-repeatedly- brave-risks-to-resume-lives-in-united- states.html?ref=mexico  http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01280/I mages/flag.jpg http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01280/I mages/flag.jpg