Caribbean Islands Geography October 16 and 19, 2015 Physical Geography Geography October 16 and 19, 2015

UNIT 3 – Chapter 9: The Caribbean Islands Objective: Students will briefly examine the Caribbean Islands, detailing its history, culture, and geography. Essential Question: How are landforms created? How does culture effect a population? How can conflicts arise because of the diffusion of culture in an area? Why do cultures sometimes conflict with one another?

Notebooks

Warm-up: CNN Student News Write a ONE SENTENCE summary on TWO news stories from CNN Student News. After the video you will have 5 minutes to write your 2 summaries. Summary: “A brief statement or account of the main points of something. Discussion to follow: What do you think?

Countries of The Caribbean There are many islands, but we are looking at the 4 main Caribbean Islands Countries that make up the Caribbean Culturally: Cuba Haiti Dominican Republic Puerto Rico Countries that make up the Caribbean Geographically: Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago.

Countries of The Caribbean

Brief Re-Cap: Dictators From time to time, Central American countries have been ruled by Dictators. Opponents of dictators are often arrested or even killed (political prisoner). Because of these abuses, these are reasons for limiting the power of the government.

Map of the Caribbean Islands

Early History Christopher Columbus first sailed into the Caribbean Sea for Spain in 1492. He thought he reached the Indies (India). Called the Islands the West Indies and the people who lived there Indians. Spain established Colonies there. In the 1600s, 1700s, the English, French, Dutch, and Danish established colonies. Brought Africans to work as slaves for sugar, tobacco, and cotton.

Culture Most islanders are of African or European descent or are a mixture of the two (Mulattos). Mixtures of European, English, French, and African languages spoken on the islands. Ex. Haitians – French & Creole. Protestant Christianity most numerous religion. Santeria – Combination of Catholicism & African religions.

Foods, Festivals, and Music Most celebrated holiday: Carnival. A time of feasts & parties before the Christian season of Lent. Music: Calypso Music – Trinidad & Tobago. Reggae Music – Jamaica Merengue – Dominican Republic Foods, Festivals, and Music

Cuba Largest and most populated country. Capital: Havana. Communist Govt. since Fidel Castro seized power in 1959. Has supported Communist guerrilla movements trying to overthrow other govts. Many Cubans who oppose Castro have become refugees in the US. US Govt. has banned trade with Cuba and citizens cannot visit. Most farmland organized into cooperatives. Govt. owns all land.

Haiti Occupies the mountainous west of Hispaniola. Poorest country in the Americas. Dense population. Suffers from many corrupt Govts. Many Haitian refugees have come to the US to escape poverty & political violence. Capital: Port-au-Prince. Economy: Sugar & Coffee. Grow Plantains – type of banana. Severe tsunami in 2003 devastated country.

Dominican Republic Occupies eastern Hispaniola. Former Spanish Colony. Capital: Santo Domingo. First permanent European settlement in the Western Hemisphere. Not a wealthy country. Suffers from low economy, education, healthcare, and housing. Main economy: tourism & agriculture.

Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans are US Citizens but with no voting power. Eastern Greater Antilles. Once a Spanish Colony, today it is a US Commonwealth – Self-governing territory associated with another country. Puerto Ricans are US Citizens but with no voting power. Unemployment high and wages low. Debate on independence or the 51st state.

Guided Reading Questions Activity: Chapter 9 Section 2 & 3 Guided Reading Questions