Mexico

Mexico

by Spencer Clark

Poll

Which is your favorite Mexican dish?????

​Terms and Names

• ​Tenochtitlán Aztec capital city, the site today of Mexico City

• ​Spanish conquest the conquest of the Aztecs by Cortés

• ​Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) political party that arose in Mexico in 1929

• ​mestizo people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage

• ​maquiladoras factories in Mexico that assemble imported materials into finished goods for export

• ​NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement among Mexico, Canada, and the United States

​COLONIALISM AND INDEPENDENCE

• ​The area that became Mexico was originally occupied by many different native peoples.

• There were the residents of Teotihuacán, an early city-state.

• The Yucatán Peninsula was home to the Maya.

• There were also Toltecs, Aztecs, and other smaller groups or tribes

​​COLONIALISM AND INDEPENDENCE

• ​In 1519, Hernando Cortés landed on the coast. He and his men marched to the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán. By 1521, Cortés, his soldiers, and their native allies had conquered the Aztecs. This is known as part of the Spanish conquest. For three centuries, Mexico was part of Spain’s empire.

​​COLONIALISM AND INDEPENDENCE

• ​In 1821, Mexican soldier Agustín de Iturbide helped Mexico achieve independence.

• Beginning in the mid1800s, Benito Juárez led a reform movement and became president of Mexico. He worked for separation of church and state, better educational opportunities, and a more even distribution of land.

​​COLONIALISM AND INDEPENDENCE

​A corrupt politician named Porfirio Díaz took over from Juárez. Díaz ruled Mexico for 30 years. His harsh rule led to revolution and civil war. A new constitution was adopted in 1917.

​​COLONIALISM AND INDEPENDENCE

​In 1929, a new political party arose in Mexico. This was the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). It helped to introduce democracy and maintain political stability for much of the 20th century. However, fraud and corruption hurt the democratic process.

​​COLONIALISM AND INDEPENDENCE

In 1997, two parties opposed the PRI and won a largenumber of seats in the congress. In 2000, Vicente Fox was elected president of Mexico. Finally, Mexico was a democratic state with more than one political party.

Multiple Choice

For how long was Mexico part of Spain’s empire?

• 10 minutes

• 10 years

• 3 Centuries

• 17 lightyears

A MEETING OF CULTURES

Before the Spanish arrived, Mexico was home to many advanced native cultures. The Aztec Empire arose in the Valley of Mexico. Their capital of Tenochtitlán held temples, palaces, gardens, and lakes. Canals linked the city.

A MEETING OF CULTURES

People grew food on islands in Lake Texcoco. When the Spanish conquered the Aztec Empire, they destroyed the capital and built Mexico City in its place.

A MEETING OF CULTURES

The Spanish brought their language and Catholic religion, both of which dominate modern Mexico. However, Mexico’s native heritage remains strong. In fact, the name of the country comes from Mexica, an older name for the Aztecs.

A MEETING OF CULTURES

Mexico has a large population of mestizos—people of mixed Spanish and Native American descent.

A MEETING OF CULTURES

Mexico has a long heritage of architecture and art. The Native Americans constructed temples and public buildings. The Spanish built simple but beautiful missions throughout the territory.

A MEETING OF CULTURES

In the 20th century, many of Mexico’s best painters portrayed Mexico’s history on the walls of public buildings. Among the most important of these mural painters were José Orozco, Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and Juan O’Gorman.

A MEETING OF CULTURES

Frida Kahlo was an important painter known for her self-portraits

Multiple Choice

Where did Mexico’s name come from?

• the name of the country comes from Mexino, an older name for the Aztecs.

• the name of the country comes from Mexica, an older name for the Aztecs.

• the name of the country comes from Mexica, an older name for the Spaniards.

• the name of the country comes from Mexica, an older name for the squirels.

​ECONOMICS: CITIES AND FACTORIES

​Mexico is attempting to close the gap between rich and poor. Mexico has been an agricultural society, but it started to industrialize in the mid-20th century.

​ECONOMICS: CITIES AND FACTORIES

​Mexico’s population is young and growing rapidly. The population of about 52 million in 1970 almost doubled by 2000. Mexicans are moving to cities because they see economic opportunities there.

​ECONOMICS: CITIES AND FACTORIES

​Mexico has a large industry based on its oil reserves. Profits from oil have helped to finance development. Many new factories are located in Mexico’s north. Maquiladoras are factories where imported materials are assembled into finished goods for export, mostly to the United States.

​ECONOMICS: CITIES AND FACTORIES

​Mexico is a member, along with the United States and Canada, of NAFTA. This agreement has created a huge zone of cooperation on trade and economic issues. It is expected to contribute to the prosperity of the member nations, creating jobs for millions of people.

Multiple Choice

What is NAFTA expected to accomplish?

• to contribute to the size of the member nations, creating jobs for millions of people

• to contribute to the churches of the member nations, creating jobs for millions of people

• to contribute to the prosperity of the member nations, creating jobs for millions of people

• to contribute to the aminals of the member nations, creating jobs for millions of people

​FACING CHALLENGES

​The people of Mexico face big challenges today, including safety, jobs, and education.

​FACING CHALLENGES

​Many workers leave Mexico and travel to the United States in search of work. Often, after a year or two working in the United States, they return to Mexico. They use the money to improve conditions for their families.

​FACING CHALLENGES

​However, after the 2008 recession, many Mexican immigrants lost their jobs or had less money to send home.

​FACING CHALLENGES

​Mexico suffers from high unemployment. Without education and training, young workers cannot find good jobs. In recent years, attendance of eligible students at schools has improved. Education will become even more important as Mexico becomes more industrial.

Multiple Choice

Why is education important to Mexico?

• Education will become even more important as Mexico becomes more industrial.

• Education will become even more banana as Mexico becomes more industrial.

• Education will become even more important as Mexico becomes less industrial.

• Education will become even less important as Mexico becomes more industrial.

Multiple Choice

The Aztec Empire fell under the rule of Spain as a result of

• diffusion.

• the Spanish conquest.

• the Free Trade Agreement.

• manufacturing.

Multiple Choice

The Aztec city that became the site of Mexico City was called

• Augustín.

• Juárez.

• Texcoco

• Tenochtitlán

Multiple Choice

In 1929, the new political party that helped introduce democracy in Mexico was called the

• Institutional Revolutionary Party

• Democratic Party.

• National Action Party

• Birthday-Party

Multiple Choice

Factories along the U.S. border that manufacture goods for export are called

• finance development

• maquiladoras.

• trade agreement factories.

• dorkfish

Multiple Choice

NAFTA is an important trade agreement that promotes the economic prosperity of

• Mexico and the United States

• Mexico, the United States, and Spain.

• soccer players

• Mexico, Canada, and the United States