Creoles People of Spanish descent who were born in the Americas Mestizos People of mixed European and Native American ancestry Maroon Colonies Colonies established by runaway slaves Independence Movements Revolutionary Country (ies) Description Toussant L’Ouverture Haiti First free country in Latin America. Former slave led a revolt against the French. L’Ouverture died in a French prison. Simon Bolivar Venezuela, Columbia, & Panama Ecuador & Peru w/San Martin Bolivar, a Creole from Venezuela, was known as “the Liberator.” He had Haitian help and promised to free slaves. Bolivia named after Bolivar. Jose de San Martin Argentina Chile w/Bernardo O’Higgins Ecuador & Peru w/Bolivar San Martin was an Argentinean Creole who had served in Spanish army. Left Ecuador & Peru to Bolivar Miguel Hidalgo Mexico (Independence came later) Hidalgo was a priest who led an army of Mestizos and native Americans. He was shot by a royalist firing squad. Dom Pedro Brazil Portuguese prince who declared independence, but later gave power to his son and went into exile. Mexico Most Common Ethnic Group Mostly Mestizo (60 Native American groups also) Mexican Revolution 1 million died in 11 year struggle (1910-1921) that toppled dictator Porfirio Diaz. Land was redistributed, workers given rights, power of church limited NAFTA & Its Members North American Free Trade Agreement between US, Canada, and Mexico Brazil Most Common Landform Amazon Rainforest Ethnic Groups Black, European (Portuguese & others), Japanese (largest population outside of Japan), and Native American Brazilian Miracle Economic turnaround. Development of new industries, hydroelectric power, and gasohol (sugarcane) Current Energy Status Self-reliant
Environmental Problem Destruction of rainforest for agriculture; timber and mineral extraction; and beef production Cuba Cuba Before Castro US business and mafia thrived under dictator Fulgencio Batista Fidel Castro Young Cuban lawyer/revolutionary who took over in 1959. Gave power to brother Raul in 2008. Government and Economy Type Communist dictatorship Cold War Ally Soviet Union Bay of Pigs 1961- US supported invasion of Cuba by 1400 Cuban exiles. Colossal failure and embarrassment for US. Cuban Missile Crisis 1962- 13 day standoff between US and USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. Closest world ever came to nuclear war. Trade Embargo 1961- US trade with Cuba was outlawed. Embargo continues to this day, mostly due to huge Cuban exile population in Florida who hate Castro regime. Puerto Rico Commonwealth Status US territory. Self-governing. US citizens, but don’t pay federal taxes or have federal representation. Has voted against statehood and independence. US and Central America Conflict in El Salvador In the 1980s, US supported right-wing government against left-wing rebels. Conflict in Nicaragua In the 1980s, US supported the Contras, right-wing rebels, in struggle against left-wing Sandinista government. Current Issues Debt Nations amassed huge debts to foreign lenders that led to a crisis in the 1980s that hurt most Latin American economies Drug Trade US and European demand for drugs (cocaine, marijuana, heroin) led to the growth of violent drug cartels in Columbia and Mexico Environmental problems Population growth and development of resources have led to deforestation, overfishing, strip mining, and air pollution