2. Latin America, From Past to Present!

3. During the early years of Latin America’s independence, many of Mestizos and Native Americans were quite poor.

4. They ruled with complete power, and were known as dictators. Many of the Caudillos did not follow democratic constitutions.

5. Latin America’s economy relied upon exporting goods, especially farm products. Export means to sell products to other countries.

6. Latin America needed to import goods as well. Importing means bringing goods or products into a country.

7. In the early 1900s, many Latin American farms and mines were owned, financed or supported by foreign companies.

8. The United States was one of the major foreign countries to have investments in Latin America. Because of it, they favored and supported the construction of the Panama Canal to aid trade.

9. The canal would also benefit the United States Navy.

10. Theodore Roosevelt was America’s president in the early 1900s. He stood his ground and required Latin America countries to pay any foreign debt they owed.

11. By the mid 1900s, military regimes ruled many Latin American countries. These regimes were the source of much unrest and violence.

12. During the 1980s, Latin American countries had to borrow from foreign countries.

13. Since the 1970s, Mexico has had a difficult time paying its debt. The World Bank was one organization aiding Mexico, financially.

14. The International Monetary Fund also assisted Mexico with paying its debt.

15. Within the last 20 years, the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, was created. Its purpose was to make trade easier amongst North American countries.

16. North America is made of Mexico, Canada and the United States.

17. MEXICOMEXICO

18. MEXICOMEXICO

19. Canada

20. AMERICAAMERICA