1. Living in Latin America
Chapter 10.1
Living in Latin America

2. Agriculture
Latifundia and Minifundia Large agricultural estates owned by wealthy families or corporations are called latifundia. 
These highly mechanized commercial operations produce high yields in return for low labor costs.
(pages 237–238)
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Section 1-6

3. Section 1-8 Agriculture (cont.)
Small government-owned farms on which rural farmers grow crops for their families are called minifundia. 
Campesinos have begun combining their farms into large, jointly run cooperatives.
(pages 237–238)
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Section 1-8

4. Section 1-9 Agriculture (cont.)
Cash Crops and Livestock Latin American countries are the world’s largest producers of coffee, bananas, and sugarcane for export. 
Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil raise cattle for export on large ranches in grasslands areas. 
Countries are at economic risk, however, if weather or other disasters destroy their cash crops.
(pages 237–238)
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Section 1-9

5. Industry
Industrial Growth Latin America’s physical geography–high mountain ranges and dense rain forests–have made the growth of industry and access to natural resources difficult in many areas. 
Political instability in some Latin American countries has made foreign investors wary of investing in Latin American industry.
(pages 238–240)
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Section 1-11

6. Section 1-12 Industry (cont.)
Countries with relatively stable governments and sufficient human and natural resources have begun to overcome these obstacles.
(pages 238–240)
Section 1-12

7. Section 1-13 Industry (cont.)
Maquiladoras Foreign-owned factories called maquiladoras–most of which are built along the U.S.-Mexico border–provide jobs to people in the host country. 
They also benefit the foreign corporations by allowing them to hire low-cost labor and provide duty-free exports. 
On the other hand, the maquiladoras also keep wages down, may encourage dangerous jobs, and often pollute the environment.
(pages 238–240)
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Section 1-13

8. Section 1-17 Trade and Interdependence (cont.)
Foreign Debts Many Latin American countries have used loans from foreign countries to finance industrial development. 
The economic troubles of the 1980s caused many of these countries to restructure their loans to allow more time to repay, but at a higher total cost. 
Repayment of foreign debt, in turn, caused needed domestic programs to be halted in some countries for lack of funds.
(page 240)
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Section 1-17

9. Section 1-19 Transportation
Latin America’s physical geography has limited the building of roads, but the region does have a major highway system, the Pan-American Highway. 
A trans-Andean highway runs through the Andes and links cities in Chile and Argentina.
(pages 240–241)
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Section 1-19

10. Section 1-20 Transportation (cont.)
Some Latin American countries have good railroads; other countries lack the funds to maintain their rail systems. 
As a result, inland waterways such as the Amazon River, the Paraná-Paraguay Rivers, and the Panama Canal are still major transport routes for both passengers and cargo. 
Air travel will help overcome the obstacles of Latin America’s physical geography, but it remains a relatively expensive mode of transportation for most Latin Americans.
(pages 240–241)
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Section 1-20

11. Section 1-22 Communications
Communications networks are still developing in many countries of Latin America. 
Newspapers, radio, and television may be censored during political unrest. 
Few Latin Americans own phones or computers, although some countries are beginning to provide public access to the Internet.
(page 241)
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Section 1-22