Unit 5 Study Guide: Latin America Today

Geography

Location What waterways Brazil, Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico have access to? Where do most Brazilians live? What is Venezuelas most important export? Why is Cuba a target for hurricanes? What is Cubas most important export? Who is Mexicos largest trading partner? Culture What is mulatto? What is mestizo? What 3 groups make up all ethnic groups in Latin America? What is the most common language in Latin America? What is the most common religion in Latin America? What language is spoken in Brazil? What are the literacy rates like in Latin America compared to the United States? Who has the highest literacy rate in Latin America?

Governance How do federal governments, unitary governments and confederal governments distribute (share) power? Who has political power in an autocracy, oligarchy, and a democracy? What is the difference between a presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy? What types of government do Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba have?

Cuban Revolution Who led the revolution against Cubas government in the 1950s? What dictator did Castro defeat in the revolution? Why was Castro angry enough to start a revolution? Who did Cuba become allies with and what type of government did Castro put in place? What trade barrier did the U.S. put on Cuba? Why? What did the Cuban Revolution have to do with the Cold War? What has been the effects of the Cuban Revolution for citizens of Cuba?

Zapatista Army Who did the Zapatista Guerilla Movement name themselves after? Why? What Mexican state did this movement begin in? Why do the Zapatistas oppose NAFTA? What are the Zapatistas beliefs and goals? How has the movement changed in recent years? What is globalization?