Mexico

1. Mexico

2. The Beginnings • Spanish conquest-the conquering of Native Americans by the Spanish • Hernando Cortes landed in 1519 and conquered the Aztecs in 1521 • Tenochtitlan-capital city of the Aztec Empire (now Mexico City)

3. Mexico • 1821-Mexico became independent from Spain • Benito Juarez became President of Mexico • New Constitution in 1917 gave almost half of Mexico’s farmland to peasant farmers

4. Mexico • 1921-Institutional Revolutionary Party introduced democracy • Began to maintain political stability • Controlled government until 2000. when Vicente Fox (from the National Action Party) was elected President

5. Mexico • Mestizo-people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage • Most of the population is moving from rural to urban homes

6. Economy • 2 problems- • Gap between rich and poor people • Trying to build a modern industrial economy • Traditionally an agricultural society • Started to industrialize in 20th century

7. Economy • Large industry in oil reserves • Manufacturing-recent • Maquiladoras-factories in Mexico that assemble imported materials into finished products • Mostly near north border with United States

8. Economy • NAFTA-North American Free Trade Agreement-U.S. and Canada also part • Trade expected to contribute to economic prosperity

9. Population • Moving to cities • Jobs in cities • 52 million people in 1970 • Over 100 million people in 2000 • Population mostly young

10. Life Today • Much emigration from Mexico to Untied States • 2000 mile border with U.S. • Work in U.S. and send money to their families

11. Work and School • Shortage of jobs (from rapidly growing population) • No education or training for good-paying jobs • 85% of school age children attend