1. Central America and the Caribbean
What are the most important challenges for the nations of Central America and the Caribbean?
Physical Geography
LESSON 1
Central America
LESSON 2
The Caribbean Islands
LESSON 3
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

2. Physical Geography LESSON 1 The Big Idea Main Ideas
The physical geography of Central America and the Caribbean islands includes warm coastal lowlands, cooler highlands, and tropical forests.
Main Ideas
Physical features of the region include volcanic highlands and coastal plains.
The climate and vegetation of the region include forested highlands, tropical forests, and humid lowlands.
Key natural resources in the region include rich soils for agriculture, a few minerals, and beautiful beaches.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

3. Physical Features The Caribbean Islands Main Idea 1 Central America
Lesson 1
Physical Features
Main Idea 1
Physical features of the region include volcanic highlands and coastal plains.
Central America
Southern part of North America
Includes Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
An isthmus, or narrow strip of land that connects two larger land areas
No place on the isthmus is more than 125 miles from either the Pacific Ocean or the Caribbean Sea
Chain of mountains and volcanoes divides Caribbean and Pacific coastal plains
No good water routes, so difficult to travel
The Caribbean Islands
Across from Central America in the Caribbean Sea
An archipelago, a large group of islands
Greater Antilles: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico
Lesser Antilles: Small islands from Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Tobago
Bahamas: 700 islands
Formed from tops of underwater mountains, volcanoes, and coral reefs pushed up by colliding tectonic plates
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

4. Climate and Vegetation
Lesson 1
Climate and Vegetation
Main Idea 2
The climate and vegetation of the region include forested highlands, tropical forests, and humid lowlands.
Generally sunny and warm
Islands and Central America’s coastal plain:
– Humid tropical and tropical savanna climates
– On the Pacific coast, vegetation has been cleared for plantations and ranches.
– Along the Caribbean Sea, tropical rain forest
Inland mountain areas:
– Cool, humid climates
– Cloud forest, or a moist, high-elevation tropical forest where low clouds are common
In most of Central America and the Caribbean, temperatures do not change much.
Winter is dry, and summer is rainy.
In summer and fall, hurricanes are a threat to the region.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

5. Lesson 1
Resources
Main Idea 3
Key natural resources in the region include rich soils for agriculture, a few minerals, and beautiful beaches.
Land and climate attract tourists.
Volcanic ash enriched soil
Crops include coffee, bananas, sugarcane, and cotton.
Export timber from rain forests
Very few mineral and energy resources
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

6. Central America LESSON 2 The Big Idea Main Ideas
Central America’s native traditions and colonial history have created a mixed culture, unstable governments, and uncertain economies. 
Main Ideas
The history of Central America was mostly influenced by Spain.
The culture of Central America is a mixture of Native American and European traditions.
Today, the countries of Central America have challenges and opportunities.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

7. History Main Idea 1 Early History
Lesson 2
History
Main Idea 1
The history of Central America was mostly influenced by Spain.
Early History
AD 250–900: Maya built large cities with pyramids and temples.
Maya descendants live in Guatemala and Belize.
Early 1500s: Europeans controlled most of Central America.
– Spain claimed most of the region.
– Britain: Belize and Nicaragua’s coast
Spain: Large plantations of tobacco and sugarcane
Europeans forced Central American Indians and enslaved Africans to work in mines and plantations.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

8. Central America Since Independence
Lesson 2
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Central America Since Independence
1821: Independence from Spain but remained joined as the United Provinces of Central America
: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala separated.
1903: Panama separated from Colombia.
1981: Belize gained independence.
After independence wealthy landowners continued to run countries.
Economy remained based on bananas and coffee.
Early to mid-1900s: U.S.-based United Fruit Company controlled most of banana production.
– The company developed railroads and port facilities improving transportation and communication.
People resented role of foreign companies.
Mid- to late 1900s: Demands for reform led to armed struggles in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Peace was achieved only in recent years.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

9. Culture Main Idea 2 People and Languages Religion, Festivals, and Food
Lesson 2
Culture
Main Idea 2
The culture of Central America is a mixture of Native American and European traditions.
People and Languages
Most people are mestizos, or people of mixed European and Indian ancestry.
Descendants of ancient Maya live in Guatemalan Highlands and other places.
People of African ancestry live mostly along the Caribbean coast.
People speak mostly Spanish, but also native Indian languages and English.
Religion, Festivals, and Food
Most people are Roman Catholic.
Indian traditions influenced Catholicism.
Celebrations are tied to religion: special saints’ feast days and Easter.
Traditional foods are corn, tomatoes, hot peppers, and cacao.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

10. Central America Today Main Idea 3 Belize
Lesson 2
Central America Today
Main Idea 3
Today, the countries of Central America have challenges and opportunities.
In 2005 Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua signed the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States to increase trade.
Belize
Smallest population in Central America
Not much land for agriculture
Ecotourism, the practice of using an area’s natural environment to attract tourists, is popular there.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

11. Lesson 2
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Guatemala
Most populous country in region, more than 13 million people
40% are Central American Indians, others are mestizo and European
Live mostly in small villages in highlands
: Fighting killed 200,000 people.
Crops: coffee and cardamom
Honduras
Mountainous country
Transportation difficult because of rugged land
Little land for farming
Exports: citrus fruits and bananas
With Guatemala and El Salvador, experienced a lot of crime, poverty, and gang violence
Many people have fled to seek asylum in other countries.
El Salvador
Land owned by a few rich people
1980s-1992: Civil war, a conflict between two or more groups within a country
War killed many and hurt the economy.
Fertile soil to grow coffee and sugarcane
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

12. Main Idea 3 Nicaragua 1979: Dictator overthrown by Sandinistas
Lesson 2
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Nicaragua
1979: Dictator overthrown by Sandinistas
: Civil war
Rebels aided by the U.S. fought the Sandinistas
1990: Democratic elections pushed Sandinistas out of power.
Now a democracy
Costa Rica
History of peace and stable, democratic government
No army
Progress toward reducing poverty
Crops: coffee and bananas
Tourism to rain forests
Panama
Narrow, southernmost country
Canal links Caribbean Sea and Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
Panama Canal fees and industry make this region prosperous.
:Canal controlled by U.S.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

13. The Caribbean Islands LESSON 3 The Big Idea Main Ideas
The Caribbean islands have a rich history and diverse cultures influenced by European colonization.
Main Ideas
The history of the Caribbean islands includes European colonization followed by independence.
The culture of the Caribbean islands shows signs of past colonialism and slavery.
Today, the Caribbean islands have distinctive governments with economies that depend on agriculture and tourism.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

14. Lesson 3
History
Main Idea 1
The history of the Caribbean islands includes European colonization followed by independence.
1492: Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean islands, believing them to be the Indies.
The islands are now 13 independent countries.
These countries show the influence of the first European colonizers.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

15. Main Idea 1 Early History Independence
Lesson 3
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Early History
Columbus mistakenly called the Caribbean the West Indies.
1600s-1700s: The English, French, Dutch, and Danish established colonies on the islands.
– They built sugarcane plantations that required many workers.
– Most Caribbean Indians died from disease, so Europeans brought enslaved Africans. Africans and their descendants outnumbered Europeans.
The exchange of people, animals, plants, ideas, and diseases between Europe and the Americas is known as the Columbian Exchange.
Independence
1804: Toussaint Louverture helped Haiti win independence from France and freedom for slaves.
Mid-1800s: The Dominican Republic became independent.
1902: Cuba became independent from the United States.
After World War II, other Caribbean countries gained independence.
Some islands, such as Martinique and Guadeloupe, are still not independent.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

16. Culture Main Idea 2 People, Languages, and Religion
Lesson 3
Culture
Main Idea 2
The culture of the Caribbean islands shows signs of past colonialism and slavery.
People, Languages, and Religion
Most islanders are descended from Europeans, Africans, or both.
Some Asians, who came to work on plantations after slavery ended, live on the islands.
People speak Spanish, English, French, and mixtures of African and European languages.
Haitians speak French Creole, which is a dialect, or a regional variety of a language.
Former colonies are mostly Roman Catholic.
People also blend Catholicism and traditional African religions.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

17. Main Idea 2 Festivals and Food
Lesson 3
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Festivals and Food
Islanders celebrate a variety of holidays.
– The most widespread is Carnival, before Lent, when people celebrate with big parades, fancy costumes, and music.
Caribbean food reflects the region’s past.
– Yams and okra from Africa
– In Barbados, souse is made of pigs’ tails, ears, and snouts because slaveholders gave slaves the leftover parts of the pig.
– People from India brought curry to the region.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

18. The Caribbean Islands Today
Lesson 3
The Caribbean Islands Today
Main Idea 3
Today, the Caribbean islands have distinctive governments with economies that depend on agriculture and tourism.
In 2008 Caribbean nations signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union with the goal of promoting economic growth and job creation.
Puerto Rico
U.S. commonwealth, or a self-governing territory associated with another country
People are U.S. citizens with no voting rights.
More developed than other Caribbean countries due to U.S. aid and investment
Many Puerto Ricans have moved the the United States.
Puerto Ricans debate whether they should remain a commonwealth, become a state, or become an independent nation.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

19. Main Idea 3 Haiti Dominican Republic
Lesson 3
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Haiti
Mountainous western part of Hispaniola
Small farms, but exports coffee and sugarcane
Poorest country in the Americas due to corruption
Many become refugees, or people fleeing to another country for political or economic reasons.
An earthquake in 2010 devastated Haiti. Haitians are still working to rebuild their nation.
Dominican Republic
Eastern part of Hispaniola
More developed than Haiti but not rich
Capital Santo Domingo is the first permanent European settlement in the Western Hemisphere.
Economy: agriculture and growing tourism
The relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti is tense.
Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic to find work, but have been met with threats of violence and deportation.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

20. Lesson 3
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Cuba
Largest and most populous country in the Caribbean with Havana as capital
Sea ports export goods.
Ocean supports fishing industry.
The tropical climate supports a growing tourism industry as well as agriculture.
Since 1959: Run by a Communist government headed by Fidel Castro
Communists took over U.S.-owned businesses, so the United States banned trade and travel.
Former president Barack Obama and Cuban president Raúl Castro began to mend the relationship between the countries.
The relationship may change again due to changes in the U.S. government.
Farms are government-owned plantations, or cooperatives, organizations owned by its members and operated for mutual benefit.
Government controls the media.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

21. Main Idea 3 Other Islands
Lesson 3
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Other Islands
Jamaica is the largest of these other islands.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest.
Construction of oil refineries has helped Curacao and Aruba regain economic strength.
A number of islands are territories of the U.S., Britain, France, and the Netherlands.
Some islands have land to grow coffee, sugarcane, and spices.
Others attract tourists.
New construction for tourists can harm the natural environment.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company