Chapter

2020

To learn more about the people andplaces of Mexico, view The Worldand Its People Chapter 6 video.

Chapter Overview Visit the Our WorldToday: People, Places, and IssuesWeb site at and click onChapter 20—Chapter Overviews to previewinformation about Mexico.

tx.owt.glencoe.com

532

MexicoMexico

Moving ForwardMexico is a country working

hard to catch up with the moreindustrialized countries of theworld. Today, Mexico is an importanttrading partner of the United States.However, a rapidly growingpopulation and a rapidly developingeconomy have made it difficult forMexico to support all of its people.

The Lighthouse of Commerce and theCathedral of Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico

▼

The Lighthouse of Commerce and theCathedral of Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico.

▼

Categorizing Information Study Foldable When you groupinformation into categories on a table, it is easier to study characteristics of items. Make this foldable to help you describe Mexico’s land, economy,and government—past and present.

This formsthree sections.

Thisforms foursections.

Fold it in half,then in half

again.

Past Present

Mexico’sLand

Mexico’sEconomyMexico’s

Government

Step 1 Fold a sheet of paper intothirds from top to bottom.

Step 2 Open the paper and refold it intofourths from side to side.

Step 3 Unfold, turn the paper, anddraw lines along the folds.

Step 4 Label your table as shown.

Reading and Writing As you read the chapter,record key facts about Mexico’s land, economy, andgovernment in the appropriate places on your table foldable.

534 CHAPTER 20

11Guide to Reading

Main Idea

Mexico’s moun-tainous landscapeand varied climatecreate differenteconomic regions.

Terms to Know

• land bridge • peninsula • latitude • altitude • hurricane • vaquero • maquiladora • subsistence farm • plantation • industrialize• service industry• NAFTA

Reading Strategy

Create a chart ofMexico’s economicregions like this one.List the maineconomic activity ofeach region.

Region of Economic Mexico Activity

Northern

Central

Southern

Mexican farmer Dionisio Pulido

was plowing his cornfield one

day. Suddenly his son heard

a rumble in the ground.

Then white smoke began

to spew into the air.

When they awoke the

next day, they saw a

volcano 30 feet (9 m)

high. Today, more than

50 years later, the vol-

cano named Paricutín

soars nearly 9,200 feet

(2,800 m) above sea level.

Paricutín and other volcanoes are scattered throughout Mexicobecause the country sits where three plates in the earth’s crust collide.Sometimes the movement of these plates brings disastrous results.Hotmagma, or melted rock, shoots through a volcano. The ground shiftsviolently in an earthquake. Do you see why Native Americans oncecalled Mexico “the land of the shaking earth”?

Bridging Two Continents Mexico forms part of a land bridge, or narrow strip of land that

joins two larger landmasses. This land bridge connects North Americaand South America. Look at the map on page 535. You can see thatMexico borders the southern United States.

Physical geographers,people who study continents and landforms,think of Mexico as part of North America. It is also true, however, thatcultural geographers think of Mexico as being part of Latin America.

For cultural geographers, language, customs, religion, and history areimportant areas of study. Both groups are correct. Mexico is a Latin(Spanish-speaking) country on the continent of North America.Mexico’s culture is closely tied to Central and South America. Its loca-tion in North America makes it an important trading partner to theUnited States and Canada. It is a country that bridges two continents.

The Pacific Ocean borders Mexico on the west. Extending southalong this western coast is Baja (BAH•hah) California. It is a long,narrow peninsula, or piece of land with water on three sides. OnMexico’s eastern side, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Seaborder the coasts. Between the Gulf and the Caribbean Sea is anotherpeninsula—the Yucatán (YOO•kah•TAHN) Peninsula.

Mexico is a rugged land. If you were to see it from space,you mightthink that the country looked like a crumpled piece of paper withdeep folds.Towering mountain ranges and a huge,high plateau occupythe center of the country.

The Sierra Madre Three different mountain ranges in Mexico make upthe Sierra Madre (SYEHR•rah MAH•thray),or “mother range.”Because of

PACIFICOCEAN

CaribbeanSea

Gulf

ofC

alifornia

Gulf ofMexico

RioGrande

Yaqui

R.

Monterrey

CiudadJu´arez

Veracruz

Canc´un

Puebla

Le´on

Guadalajara

Mexico City

Acapulco

SINALOA

COLIMA

TABASCO

YUCATAN

QUINTANAROOCAMPECHE

PUEBLAMICHOACAN

MEXICO

NAYARIT

GUERREROMORELOS

FEDERAL DISTRICT

GUANAJUATO

ZACATECAS

JALISCO

OAXACA CHIAPAS

HIDALGO

DURANGO

COAHUILA

TAMAULIPAS

VERACRUZ

SAN LUIS POTOSÍ

AGUASCALIENTES

QUERETARO

TLAXCALA

CHIHUAHUA

SONORA

BAJACALIFORNIA

BAJACALIFORNIA

SUR

NUEVOLEON

U N I T E D S T A T E S

M E X I C O

C E N T R A LA M E R I C A

110°W

30°N

20°N

100°W 90°W

TROPIC OF CANCER

Azimuthal Equidistant projection300

3000 mi.

0 km

N

S

EW

National capitalMajor city

Applying Map Skills

1. Mexico is divided intostates. How many statesare there?

2. What country bordersMexico on the north?

Find NGS online map resources @www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

Mexico: Political

the rugged terrain,few people live in the Sierra Madre.The mountains arerich in resources, though. They hold copper, zinc, silver, and timber.

Many of Mexico’s mountains are volcanoes. Popocatepetl (POH•puh•KAT•uh•PEHT•uhl), or “El Popo,” as Mexicans call it, erupted vio-lently centuries ago. In December 2000,El Popo erupted again,hurlingmolten rock into the sky.About 30,000 people from surrounding areaswere forced to temporarily leave their homes. Tens of millions of peo-ple live 50 miles (80 km) or less from the mountain and could faceeven worse eruptions in the future.

Mexicans face another danger from the land.Earthquakes can destroytheir cities and homes.A 1985 earthquake killed nearly 10,000 people inMexico’s capital, Mexico City, even though the earthquake’s center

was about 185 miles (298 km) away. Youcan understand why there are so manyearthquakes here if you remember thatMexico is one of the countries that borderthe “Ring of Fire.” This ring includes three-fourths of the world’s active volcanoes.Earthquakes in the zone are common dueto movement of the huge Pacific plate deepunder the earth’s crust.

The Plateau of Mexico The Sierra Madresurround the large,flat center of the country,the Plateau of Mexico. You find mostlydeserts and grassy plains in the northernpart of the plateau. Broad, flat valleys thatslice through the center hold many of thecountry’s chief cities and most of its people.To the south, the plateau steadily rises untilit meets with the high, snowcapped moun-tains of the southern Sierra Madre.

Coastal Lowlands Mexico’s lowland plainssqueeze between the mountains and the sea.The Pacific Coastal Plain begins with a hot,largely empty desert in the north. As you

move farther south, better soil and rainfall allow ranching and farmingalong this plain. On the other side of the country, the Gulf Coastal Plainhas more rain and fertile soil for growing crops and raising animals.

What two dangers from the land do Mexicans face?

Land of Many Climates Mexico has many different climates. Why? As you read in Chapter 2,

latitude—or location north or south of the Equator—affects tempera-ture. The Tropic of Cancer, which cuts across the center of Mexico at23!/2ºN latitude, marks the northern edge of the Tropics. Areas south ofthis line have warm temperatures throughout the year. Areas north of thisline are warm in summer and cooler in winter.

536 CHAPTER 20

On Location

Earthquake

In September, 1985,a massive earthquakedestroyed much ofMexico City. Manydied and about250,000 people wereleft homeless.

Region What proba-bly caused the earth-quake in Mexico City?

•

Mexico 537

Altitude, or height above sea level, affects temperature inMexico as well. The higher the altitude, the cooler the tempera-tures—even within the Tropics. The diagram above shows thatMexico’s mountains and plateau create three altitude zones. Youcould travel through all of these zones in a day’s trip across the SierraMadre.

Because the coastal lowlands are near sea level, they have high tem-peratures.Mexicans call this altitude zone the tierra caliente (tee•AY•rah kah•lee•AYN•tay),or “hot land.”Moving higher in altitude,you findthe tierra templada (taym•PLAH•dah), or “temperate land.” Here theclimate becomes more moderate. In the highest zone, the climatebecomes even cooler. Mexicans call this the tierra fría (FREE•ah), or“cold land.”

Rainfall varies throughout Mexico. Baja California and northernMexico receive very little precipitation. Other regions receive more,mostly in the summer and early fall. From June to October, Mexico canbe hit by hurricanes. These fierce tropical storms with high windsand heavy rains form over the warm waters of the Atlantic or PacificOceans. They can strike Mexico with fury.

What is Mexico’s warmest altitude zone?

Mexico’s Economic Regions Mexico’s physical geography and climate together give Mexico

three distinct economic regions: the North, Central Mexico, and theSouth. Large stretches of northern Mexico are too dry and rocky tofarm. By building canals to carry water to their fields, people withoutirrigation can grow cotton, fruits, grains, and vegetables.

Northern Mexico Did you know that the skills used by Americancowhands originated in Mexico? Mexican cowhands, called vaqueros(vah•KEHR•ohs),developed the tools and techniques for herding, rop-ing, and branding cattle. Vaqueros in northern Mexico carry on thiswork today.

Sea Level

PacificOcean

CaribbeanSea

Sierra MadreOriental

Sierra MadreOccidental

Tierra templada 2,500 feet (760 m) Coffee, corn, citrus fruit

Tierra fría 6,500 feet (2,000 m) Potatoes, wheat, applesTierra fría 6,500 feet (2,000 m) Potatoes, wheat, apples

Tierra caliente 0 feet (0 m) Bananas, cacao, sugarcane, rice

MexicoCity

Mexico’s Altitude Zones

Analyzingthe Diagram

Mexico has zones ofdifferent climates thatresult from different altitudes.

Location In which alti-tude zone is Mexico Citylocated?

538 CHAPTER 20

Northern Mexico has seen an economic boom. Monterrey,Mexico’s main producer of steel and cement, has long been an

important industrial city. In this and other cities, many companiesfrom the United States and elsewhere have built maquiladoras

(mah•KEEL•ah•DOHR•as), or factories that assemble partsmade in other countries. As a result, thousands of Mexicanshave flocked to cities such as Tijuana (tee•WAH•nah) andCiudad Juárez (see•ooh•DAHD HWAH•rayz) along the bor-der with the United States. The growth in these border citieshas raised the standard of living in northern cities throughfactory work and increased trade.However, this quick growth

has also brought concerns about damaging the environment,pollution, and dangers to the health and safety of workers.

Central Mexico More than half of Mexico’s people live inthe central region, the country’s heartland. Why do they call this

area home? The climate is one reason. Although central Mexico liesin the Tropics, its high elevation keeps it from being hot and humid.Temperatures are mild, and the climate is pleasant year-round. A sec-ond reason is the fertile soil created by volcanic eruptions over thecenturies. This allows good production for farming and ranching.

Large industrial cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara alsoprosper in central Mexico. More than 18 million people live in MexicoCity and its suburbs, making it one of the largest cities in the world.Mexico City has been the largest city in the Americas since before theSpanish arrived in the early 1500s.

Southern Mexico The South is the poorest economic region of thecountry. The mountains towering in the center of this region havepoor soil.Subsistence farms, or small plots where farmers grow onlyenough food to feed their families, are common here. In contrast, thecoastal lowlands of this area have good soil and plentiful rain. Wealthyfarmers grow sugarcane or bananas on plantations, large farms thatraise a single crop for sale.

Both coasts also have beautiful beaches and a warm climate. Touristsfrom all over the world flock to such resort cities as Acapulco and PuertoVallarta on the Pacific coast and Cancún on the Yucatán Peninsula.

How does the economic region of northern Mexico differfrom that of southern Mexico?

Mexico’s Economy TodayWith many resources and workers,Mexico has a growing economy.

Did you know that Mexico’s economy ranks among the top 15 in theworld? As in the past, agriculture is important. Farmers raise food tofeed people at home—and also to ship around the world. Corn, beans,wheat, and rice are the main crops grown for food. Exports includecoffee, cotton, vegetables, fruit, livestock, and tobacco.

In recent years, Mexico has industrialized, or changed its econ-omy to rely less on farming and more on manufacturing. Factories in

h A skilled seamstressmakes clothing in amaquiladora innorthern Mexico.

Mexico

AssessmentAssessment11Defining Terms 1. Define land bridge, peninsula, latitude, altitude,

hurricane, vaquero, maquiladora, subsistencefarm, plantation, industrialize, service industry,NAFTA.

Recalling Facts 2. History How did the vaqueros of Mexico

influence American ranching?

3. Location Why is Mexico a land bridge?

4. Economics Why have many Mexicans movedto the cities of the north?

Critical Thinking 5. Understanding Cause and Effect How

has NAFTA affected the people in Canadaand the people in Mexico? Do you thinkNAFTA has been good or bad for the peoplein border cities of the United States? Explain.

6. Analyzing Information Explain why Mexicois part of both North America and LatinAmerica.

Graphic Organizer 7. Organizing Information Create a diagram

like this one, and then list two facts thatexplain the large population of central Mexico.

Applying Social Studies Skills

8. Analyzing Diagrams Study Mexico’s altitudezones on page 537. At which elevation do youthink most people live? Why do they live here?

High Population of

Central Mexico

Mexico now make cars, consumer goods, and steel. The labels on yourclothing might even say “Made in Mexico.”

Mexico has large deposits of petroleum and natural gas in the Gulfof Mexico and along the southern coast. As a result, Mexico is amongthe world’s major oil-producing nations.

Mexico is also home to important service industries such as bank-ing and tourism. Service industries, you recall, are businesses thatprovide services to people rather than producing goods.

NAFTA In 1994,Mexico, the United States, and Canada became part-ners in NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.Under thisagreement, most goods traded between these countries would be freeof tariffs, or special taxes. This means a homemaker in Canada wouldprobably choose to buy a tablecloth made in Mexico rather than to paymore for a taxed tablecloth produced in Europe.

Some Americans have been afraid that belonging to NAFTAwould mean American jobs would “go south.” They feared that thelower rate of pay for labor in Mexico would encourage many manu-facturers to move their businesses to Mexico rather than keep themin the United States. The debate about the overall effect of NAFTA isstill going on. However, as one supporter of NAFTA stated, “AsAmericans, it is far better to have prosperous than struggling neigh-bors, and NAFTA contributes to this objective.”

Why are some Americans afraid jobs will “go south”?

Good NeighborsEvery 60 seconds, goods

worth more than $500,000 crossthe U.S.-Mexican border. Goodsworth nearly $750,000 cross theU.S.-Canadian border. Thosenumbers are double what theywere in 1994. What made themgrow, experts say, was the NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement,or NAFTA.

Pros and Cons

NAFTA is an agreement that allows for the free movement ofgoods across the international bor-ders of Canada, the United States,and Mexico. The free movement of goods means people are able to import goods from other coun-tries without paying import taxes, called tariffs.

Since NAFTA took effect, millions of new jobshave been created in all three countries, especiallyMexico. On the negative side, some U.S. and Cana-dian companies moved their factories to Mexicowhere wages are low. As a result, many U.S. andCanadian workers lost their jobs.

The United States and Mexico are interdepend-ent. Mexicans depend on U.S. companies to createjobs in Mexico. The United States depends on theability of Mexican workers to produce goodscheaply.

U.S. border communities depend on Mexico,too. From El Paso alone, Mexican factories buy $8 billion to $10 billion worth of goods and services every year. U.S. companies often try tomake workers’ lives easier by building safe andaffordable housing.

Mexico’s Future

Mexico’s economy must get stronger. In 2001,one of every two people in Mexico was poor.

One in five was desperately poor, scraping by onless than $2 per day. Farmworkers earned onlyabout $5 per day. That isn’t nearly enough to support a family.

Jobs in border factories, or maquiladoras,that opened after NAFTA was signed pay on the average of $10 per day. This is still a smallamount compared to U.S. jobs, but it is much better than before.

Mexico’s president Vicente Fox is workingclosely with U.S. officials to ease such problems asimmigration and trade restrictions. He would liketo see the interdependence created by NAFTAcontinue to grow and benefit all its members.

PEOPLEPEOPLE

540 CHAPTER 20

1. List the combined border cities on the map abovein order of size, from largest to smallest.

2. Drawing Conclusions Which border citieswould you expect to be connected by bridges?Why?

CALIFORNIAARIZONA

UNITED STATES

MEXICO

SONORA

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

CHIHUAHUA4 million3 million1 million500,000100,00010,000

BoomtownsSize of circle indicates population of area. Border cities are combined*

Tijuana

SanDiego

Calexico

Yuma

Mexicali

El Paso

CiudadJuárez

Laredo

NuevoLaredo

McAllen

Reynosa

Brownsville

Matamoros*Border cities with fewer than 500,000 are not named.

United States and Mexico: Border Cities

Map by Joe Lertola for TIME

Thousands of people visit an ancient

temple in Mexico’s Yucatán

Peninsula on the spring and

fall equinoxes. On those

two days, the setting sun

casts a shadow on the

stairs of the temple’s

north face. The area

that is not shadowed

looks like the ancient

Native American god

called Kukulcan, or the

Feathered Serpent,

going down the temple

stairs.

The first people to arrive in Mexico were the ancestors of today’sNative Americans. Mexico’s Native American heritage has shaped thecountry’s culture. So has Mexico’s European heritage, brought by theSpaniards who conquered the area in the 1500s.

Native American CivilizationsNative Americans came to Mexico thousands of years ago. From

about 1200 B.C. to the A.D.1500s, these people built a series of brilliant,highly advanced civilizations on Mexican soil. Of these, the Olmec,Mayan, and Aztec civilizations are the best-known. Look at the map onpage 542 to see where the Olmec, Mayan, and Aztec civilizationsthrived.

The Olmecs The Olmecs built the first civilization in the Americasaround 1200 B.C. They decorated their cities with large carved stonestatues, some standing about 10 feet (3 m) high and weighing over 20 tons (18 t).They also carved smaller and more personal objects likejewelry out of jade, a local shiny stone that comes in many shades of

541

Guide to Reading

Main Idea

Mexico’s culturereflects a blend ofits Native Americanand Spanish past.

Terms to Know

• jade• obsidian• maize• hieroglyphics• mural• colony• hacienda

Reading Strategy

Create a chart likethis one, thenprovide one exampleof how NativeAmericans andEuropeans influencedMexican culture.

22

Ethnic InfluenceGroups on Mexican

Culture

Native Americans

Europeans

green as well as other colors.All these items were carved with obsidian,a hard, black glass created by the volcanoes in the area, because theOlmecs had no metals.

The Olmecs were the first to grow maize, or corn, to feed theirmany people. In addition to cities and ceremonial centers, they builtlarge drainage systems to direct rainwater away from their fields andsettlements.The Olmecs lasted longer than any other Native Americancivilization, finally disappearing in about 400 B.C.

The Maya The people called the Maya lived in the rain forests of theYucatán Peninsula and surrounding areas from about A.D. 250 to 900.Religion held Mayan society together. Mayan priests needed to measuretime accurately to hold religious ceremonies at the correct moment.They studied the heavens and developed a calendar of 365 days.

The Maya built huge stone temples in the shape of pyramids withsteps. One of these structures, the temple of Kukulcan, showed care-ful planning.Each side of Kukulcan had 91 steps, totaling 364.The plat-form at the temple’s top made one more step for a grand total of365—just like the days in the year.

The Maya also developed hieroglyphics, a form of writing that usessigns and symbols. They had a complex number system. Artists deco-rated temples and tombs with elaborate murals, or wall paintings.

Around A.D. 900, Mayan civilization declined. Why? Historians donot know.Some suggest that the Maya overused the land and could notgrow enough food. Others suggest that warfare or the spread of dis-ease caused their decline. The Maya did not disappear, however. Theirdescendants still live in the same area and speak the Mayan language.

N

S

EW

5000 mi.

5000 kmAlbers Conic Equal-Area projection

90°W100°W110°W

120°W

TROPIC OF CANCER

20°N

30°N

G u l f o f M e x i c o

PA C I F I CO C E A N

Bay ofCampeche

Gulf

ofC

alifornia

CaribbeanSea

NORTH

AMERICA

CentralPlateau

CENTRAL

AMERICA

S i e r ra MadreO

rienta l

S i e r raM

adreO

cc identa l

Tenochtitl´an

Chich´en Itz´a

Tikal

Cop´an

Applying Map Skills

1. Which civilization livedmostly on the YucatánPeninsula?

2. What was the chief city of the Aztec civilization?

Find NGS online map resources @www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

Mayan land (A.D. 250–900)

Olmec land (1200–400 B.C.)

Aztec land (A.D. 900–1521)

City

Present-day boundary

Mexico’s Native American Civilizations

Mexico 543

The Aztec Around A.D. 1200, a peoplecalled the Mexica moved into central Mexicofrom the north.The Spanish later called thesepeople the Aztec. The Aztec conquered alarge empire in central Mexico. Their capital,Tenochtitlán (tay•NAWCH• teet•LAHN) wasmagnificent. Today Mexico City—Mexico’scapital—stands on this ancient site.

Tenochtitlán was originally built on twoislands in the middle of Lake Texcoco. Longdikes connected it to land.The city had hugestepped pyramids.Merchants traded gold, sil-ver, and pottery in busy marketplaces.Farmers grew their crops in structures called“floating gardens,” or rafts filled with mud.The rafts eventually sank to the lake bottomand piled up, forming fertile islands.

The Aztec people and many of their tra-ditions survive today in Mexico. The food,crafts, and language of Mexico have roots inAztec culture. Even the name of the countrycomes from the word the Aztec called themselves—the Mexica. Theflag of modern Mexico honors this ancient civilization. In the centerof the flag is the Aztec symbol of an eagle with a snake in its beak.

What Native American cultures flourished in Mexico?

Spanish MexicoIn 1519 Mexico’s history changed dramatically. A Spanish army

led by Hernán Cortés landed on Mexico’s Gulf coast. He and about600 soldiers marched to Tenochtitlán, which they had heard wasfilled with gold.

But how did just 600 Spaniards conquer the heart of the AztecEmpire, which contained about 6 million people? There are severalreasons for their success. First, the Spanish made treaties with theIndians who had been conquered by the Aztec. These treaties broughtthe Spanish thousands of warriors and many needed supplies. Second,Cortés’s men had steel swords, muskets, and cannons, while the Aztechad only wooden weapons with jade and obsidian blades and points.Third, the Spanish had horses, which were unknown to the Indiansuntil then. In fact, when Cortés was on his horse, the Aztec thoughtthat he and his horse were one creature. They thought he was one oftheir most important gods, Quetzlcoatl, and that he had returned topunish them. So, of course, many were afraid of him.

Spain made Mexico a colony, or an overseas territory, becauseMexico’s rocky land held rich deposits of gold and silver.Many Spanishsettlers came to live in Mexico. Some raised cattle on large ranchescalled haciendas (ah•see•AYN•dahs). Others started gold and silvermines.The Spaniards made Native Americans work on the ranches and

On Location

Teotihuacán

Hundreds of yearsbefore the appear-ance of the Aztec orthe Spanish, NativeAmericans built mon-uments, such as theTemple of the Sun inthe city of Teotihua-cán. Teotihuacán waslocated near what isnow Mexico City.

History How was thesmall Spanish armyable to defeat theAztec?

•

in the mines. Thousands of Native Americans died from mistreatment.Many thousands more died of diseases such as the common cold andsmallpox, which they caught from the Europeans. Spanish priestscame to Mexico and in their own way tried to improve the lives of theNative Americans. Because of their work, many Native Americansaccepted the priests’ teachings. Today about 90 percent of Mexico’speople follow the Roman Catholic religion.

Why was Mexico a valuable colony for Spain?

Independence and RevolutionThe people of Mexico eventually rebelled against Spanish rule and

gained independence in 1821. In 1824 they set up a republic with anelected president. Soon after independence, Mexico lost some valuableterritory to the United States.The territory included Texas and California.

For many decades, rich families, army officers, and Catholic Churchleaders held most of the power and wealth in Mexico. In 1910Mexican peasants revolted. Emiliano Zapata, who commanded arebel army, stated the goals of this revolution.He wanted to give to thepoor “the lands, woods, and water that the landlords or bosses havetaken from us.” Zapata’s forces swooped down and seized many largehaciendas.They divided the land among the poor. In the northwesternprovinces along the U.S. border, Francisco “Pancho” Villa also triedto help the poor, mostly Indian peasants.

Who led the 1910 revolution?

AssessmentAssessment22Defining Terms1. Define jade, obsidian, maize, hieroglyphics,

mural, colony, hacienda.

Recalling Facts2. History Describe three achievements of the

ancient Maya.

3. History Which European country conqueredand colonized Mexico?

4. History What were Emiliano Zapata’s goals?

Critical Thinking5. Sequencing Information Put the

following events in the correct chronologi-cal order: Cortés conquers the Aztec,Mexico wins independence from Spain, theMexica move into central Mexico, Zapataleads a revolution.

6. Understanding Cause and Effect How didthe arrival of Europeans affect the NativeAmericans in Mexico?

Graphic Organizer7. Organizing Information Create a chart like

this one. In each column list the major advance-ments of each civilization.

Applying Social Studies Skills

8. Analyzing Maps Refer to the map of Mexico’sNative American civilizations on page 542. WhichNative American group settled the farthest south?

Web Activity Visit theOur World Today:People, Places, andIssues Web site at

andclick on Chapter 20—Student WebActivities to learnmore about Mexico’shistory.

tx.owt.glencoe.com

Olmec Maya Aztec

Mexico 545

A map that shows the different heights ofthe land is called a physical map. Physicalmaps use colors and shading to also showrelief—or how flat or rugged the land surfaceis. Colors are also used to show the land’selevation—or height above sea level. Greenoften shows the lowest elevations (closestto sea level). Yellows, oranges, browns, andreds usually mean higher elevations. Some-times the highest areas, such as mountainpeaks, are white.

Learning the Skill To read a physical map, apply these steps:

• Read the map title to identify the regionshown on the map.

• Use the map key to find the meaning of colors and symbols.

• Identify the areas of highest and lowest elevation on the map.

• Find important physical features, includingmountains, rivers, and coastlines.

• Mentally map the actual shape of the land.

Practicing the Skill Look at the map to answer the following:

1. What country is shown on the map? 2. What mountain ranges are labeled? 3. What is the elevation of the green areas

on the map (in feet and meters)?

4. What color on the map means2,000–5,000 feet (600–1,500 m)?

5. Briefly describe the physical landscapeof the area shown on the map, movingfrom west to east.

Reading a Physical Map

500

5000 mi.

0 kmAlbers Conic Equal-Area projection

N

S

EW

30°N

20°N

100°W110°W 90°W

Gulf ofMexico

PACIFICOCEAN

Bay ofCampeche

Rio

Grande

Rio Balsas

Sie

rraM

adre

Occidental

Baja

Califo

rnia

Sie

rraM

adre

Oriental Yucat´an

Peninsula

Sierra Madre del Sur

Isthmus ofTehuantepec

Bols´on deMapimi

��

�

Pico de Orizaba18,855 ft.(5,747 m)

Plateauof

Mexico

Gulf

Coastal

Pla

in

Iztaccíhuatl17,343 ft.(5,286 m)

Popocat´epetl17,802 ft.(5,426 m)

U N I T E D S T A T E S

MEXICO

CENTRALAMERICA

MexicoCity

Mexico:Physical

Applying the Skill

Look at the physical map of Canada onpage 474. Describe the physical landscape ofthe country, moving from east to west.

Practice key skills with GlencoeSkillbuilder Interactive Workbook, Level 1.

National boundaryMountain peak

Feet10,000

5,0002,0001,000

0

Meters3,0001,5006003000

Elevations

Guide to Reading

Main Idea

Mexicans enjoy arich and livelyculture but facemany seriouschallenges.

Terms to Know

• plaza• adobe• federal republic• migrant worker• national debt • smog

Reading Strategy

Create a diagram likethis one. In each ofthe smaller ovals,write a feature ofMexican culture. Addas many smallerovals as you need.

546 CHAPTER 20

33

Mexico—the third-largest country in area in Latin America, afterBrazil and Argentina—has a large and dynamic population. About 75percent of all Mexicans live in the country’s bustling cities.

Mexico’s Cities and VillagesIn the center of Mexico’s cities,you often find large plazas, or pub-

lic squares. Around each city’s plaza stand important buildings such asa church and a government center. When you look at the buildings,you can see the architectural style of Spanish colonial times. Newersections of the cities have a mix of towering glass office buildings andmodern houses. In the poorer sections of town, people build smallhomes out of whatever materials they can find. This may includeboards, sheet metal, or even cardboard.

Rural villages also have central plazas. Streets lead from the plazasto residential areas. Many homes are made of adobe (uh•DOH•bee),or sun-dried clay bricks. The roofs might be made of straw or of col-ored tile, in the Spanish style.

What do you find in the center of Mexico’s cities and villages?

MexicanCulture

Mexican art reveals the pride that the

people take in their rich heritage.

The people of Taxco (TAHS•

koh) call their city the “silver

capital of the world.”

Though the nearby hills

no longer hold any sil-

ver, the city remains a

home to craftspeople

who make silver jew-

elry, cups, and trays.

Here, a designer and

silversmith examine a

new pitcher design.

Mexico 547

Mexican CultureMexican artists and writers have created many national treasures.

In the early 1900s, Mexican painters produced beautiful murals—justas Native American painters had done centuries before. Among themost famous of these mural painters were José Clemente Orozco,David Alfero Sequieros, and Diego Rivera. Rivera’s wife, Frida Kahlo,became well-known for her paintings, which revealed her inner feel-ings. Modern writers such as Carlos Fuentes and Octavio Paz havewritten poems and stories that reflect the values of Mexico’s people.

Food If you have tasted Mexican food, you know that it is a richblend of flavors. Corn—first grown in Mexico—continues to be animportant part of the Mexican diet. Chocolate, tomatoes, beans,squash, and chilies were all Native American foods as well. When theSpanish came, they brought beef, chicken, cheese, and olive oil, whichMexicans added to their cooking.

Today, Mexicans combine these different cooking traditions in pop-ular foods such as tacos and enchiladas.Both dishes combine a flat breadcalled a tortilla with meat or beans,vegetables,cheese,and spicy chilies.

Celebrations Throughout the year,Mexicans enjoy several special cel-ebrations called fiestas (fee•EHS•tuhs). These special days includeparades, fireworks, music, and dancing. Mariachi (MAHR•ee•AH•chee)bands may play such traditional instruments as the violin,guitar,horn,andbass at fiestas. More likely, however, you will hear the fast-paced rhythmsand singing of Latino bands, which have influenced the United States.

National holidays include Independence Day (September 16)and Cinco de Mayo (May 5). This holiday celebrates the day in 1862that Mexicans defeated an invading French army in battle. November 2

ArtMexican artist Diego Rivera is one of the

most famous mural painters of the twentiethcentury. He believed that art belonged to thepeople. In Mexico City, Rivera’s murals line thecourtyard of the Ministry of Education buildingand cover the walls of the National Palace. Withtheir characteristically vivid colors and distinc-tive style, Rivera’s murals tell the story of thework, culture, and history of the Mexican people.

Looking Closer How did Rivera’s work supporthis belief that art belongs to the people?

Mexico Through the Centuries #

548 CHAPTER 20

is a special religious celebration calledthe Day of the Dead. On this day, fami-lies gather in cemeteries where theyhonor their departed loved ones by lay-ing down food and flowers.

What are some importantcelebrations in Mexico?

Mexico’sGovernment

Mexico, like the United States, is afederal republic, where power isdivided between national and state governments, and a strong presidentleads the national government. Mexico’snational government differs in that it hasmuch more power than the state gov-ernments. The president of Mexico ishead of the executive branch of govern-ment. He or she can serve only one six-year term but has more power than thelegislative and judicial branches.

For many decades, one political party, called the Party ofInstitutional Revolution (PRI), led Mexico. All the presidents andmost other elected officials came from this party. In recent years, eco-nomic troubles and the people’s lack of political power led to growingfrustration. In the year 2000, the newly elected president of Mexico,Vicente Fox, came from a different political party—for the first timein more than 70 years.

Mexico’s government faces many difficult challenges. People inMexico are demanding more political freedom to make decisions thataffect their everyday lives. Traffic in illegal drugs is protected by cor-rupt government officials. Nearly 40 percent of Mexico’s 100 millionpeople live below the poverty line. To fight the country’s pressingproblems, from poverty to drugs, a strong central government isneeded. To increase democracy in Mexico, however, Fox must givepower back to local and state agencies. Fox will have to help his coun-try find the balance between these two levels of government.

What form of government does Mexico have?

Mexico’s ChallengesMexico has tried to use its resources to improve the lives of its

people. These actions have had strong effects on Mexican life—andcreated some challenges for the future.

Population Mexico’s population has increased rapidly in recentdecades. Because many people have moved to the cities to find jobs,the cities have grown quickly. Many people have been forced to take

On Location

•

Fiestas

On September 16,parades celebrate thewomen and men whohelped win Mexicanindependence.

Culture What is thepurpose of fiestas?

jobs that pay low wages. As a result, thousands of people crowdtogether in poor sections of the cities.

Those Mexicans who cannot find any work in their country maybecome migrant workers. These are people who travel from placeto place when extra workers are needed to plant or harvest crops.They legally and sometimes illegally cross Mexico’s long border towork in the United States. Though the pay is low, the migrant workerscan earn more in the United States than in Mexico.

Another issue with people involves the descendents of the ancientMaya Indians. The present-day Maya live in the southernmost state ofMexico called Chiapas. This state is one of the poorest states inMexico. Over 75 percent of the people there live below the povertylevel. Most of the wealth in Chiapas is concentrated in a very smallnumber of ranching families who are of Spanish descent. Diseases andillness that result from the poverty and a lack of health care causemany thousands of deaths every year. Believing that the Mexican gov-ernment would never help improve their situation, many Mayarebelled. The Zapatista Army they formed is still fighting for inde-pendence from the central government.

Foreign Debt For decades, the Mexican government refused to letforeign companies build factories in Mexico. Leaders feared that thecompanies would take their profits to their own country, thus draining

RioG

rande

PACIFICOCEAN Gulf of Mexico

Bay ofCampeche

Gulf

ofC

alifornia Monterrey

Tampico

Tijuana

Mexicali

Guadalajara

Le´on

Puebla

Acapulco

M´erida

Mexico City

Chihuahua

CiudadJu´arez

CENTRAL

AMERICA

U N I T E D S T A T E S

110°W

30°N

20°N

100°W 90°W

TROPIC OF CANCER

120°W

Azimuthal Equidistant projection

N

S

EW

300

3000

0

mi.

km

Mexico: Population Density

Applying Map Skills

1. What is the mostpopulous city in Mexico?

2. How does the populationof Chihuahua comparewith that of Monterrey?

Find NGS online map resources @www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

549

Sq. KmSq. Mi.Persons per

Uninhabited

Under 1

1–25

25–50

50–100

Over 100

Uninhabited

Under 2

2–60

60–125

125–250

Over 250

CitiesCity with more than5,000,000 people

City with 1,000,000 to5,000,000 people

City with 500,000 to1,000,000 people

AssessmentAssessment33Defining Terms1. Define plaza, adobe, federal republic, migrant

worker, national debt, smog.

Recalling Facts2. Culture What percentage of Mexico’s popula-

tion lives in urban areas?

3. Government Explain how Mexico’s govern-ment is similar to the government of theUnited States. How is it different?

4. Government Why did Mexico’s governmentrefuse to allow foreign factories in Mexico?

Critical Thinking5. Analyzing Information What has

resulted from the Mexican government’spolicy of borrowing from foreign banks?

6. Summarizing Information What prob-lems have resulted from Mexico’s expand-ing population?

Graphic Organizer7. Organizing Information Create a diagram

like this one. On the arrows list three factorsthat have led to the smog problem of MexicoCity. Be sure to consider physical characteristicsof the area when listing the factors.

Applying Social Studies Skills

8. Analyzing Maps Look at the population den-sity map on page 549. What is the population ofGuadalajara? What is the population density ofthe area surrounding Mérida?

Smog inMexico

City

money out of Mexico.In the 1990s, the government changed this policy.Mexican officials were still concerned that money would be lost, buthoped that the new factories would create more jobs for Mexicans.

To help its economy grow, Mexico borrowed money from foreignbanks. The government then had to use any money it earned in taxesto pay back the loans.As a result,Mexico’s leaders did not have enoughfunds to spend on the Mexican people when the economy began tostruggle. Many Mexicans grew angry. Yet, if the government did notmake the loan payments, banks would refuse to lend more money forfuture plans. Because there are still loans to be repaid, Mexicans willface this situation for many years. The problem of repaying a nationaldebt, or money owed by the government, is one that is being faced bymany countries in the world today.

Pollution As Mexico’s population boomed, its cities grew very large.At the same time, the economy industrialized. Both of these changescontributed to rising pollution in Mexico.

The mountains that surround Mexico City trap the exhaust fumesfrom hundreds of thousands of cars. People wake each day to a thickhaze of fog and chemicals called smog. Many people wear maskswhen they leave their homes to go to work or school. In northernMexico, many factories release dangerous chemicals into the air orwater. One environmental group says that the Rio Grande is now oneof the most polluted rivers in North America.

What challenges does Mexico face?

Chapter

2020

Terms to Know land bridge peninsula latitude altitude hurricane vaquero maquiladora subsistence farm plantation industrializeservice industryNAFTA

Main Idea Mexico’s mountainous landscape and varied climate create differenteconomic regions. ✓Location Mexico is part of a land bridge that connects North and South

America.✓Movement Mexico’s economy is growing; and many people are moving to

the northern cities.✓Location Much of Mexico lies in the Tropics, but the climate in some areas is

cool because of high elevation.✓Economics Landforms and climate combine to create three economic zones

in Mexico.

Section 1 Mexico’s Land and EconomySection 1

Reading ReviewReading Review

Mexico 551

Mexico’s History Terms to Know jade obsidian maize hieroglyphics mural colony hacienda

Main Idea Mexico’s culture reflects a blend of its Native American and Spanishpast. ✓History Mexico’s Native American civilizations—the Olmec, Maya, and

Aztec—made many contributions to Mexico’s culture.✓Culture Mexico’s people reflect the country’s Native American and

Spanish roots.✓History The Spanish ruled Mexico from the 1500s to 1821, when Mexico

won its independence.✓History The poor people in Mexico revolted against the rich and powerful

church and military leaders in 1910.

Section 2Section 2

Mexico Today Terms to Know plaza adobefederal republicmigrant workernational debt smog

Main Idea Mexicans enjoy a rich and lively culture but face many serious challenges. ✓Culture About 75 percent of Mexicans live in cities today.✓Environment Mexico is suffering from air pollution.✓Culture Challenges facing Mexico include problems caused by population

growth, foreign investment and debt, and pollution.✓Government Mexico’s government is a federal republic.

Section 3Section 3

Using Key Terms Match the terms in Part A with their definitions in Part B.

Reviewing the Main Ideas Section 1 Mexico’s Land and Economy 11. Location How does Mexico’s latitude

affect its climate? 12. Economics What are Mexico’s major

exports?13. Movement How have maquiladoras

affected northern Mexico’s cities?

Section 2 Mexico’s History 14. History What was the capital city of the

Aztec civilization? 15. History What effects did Spanish con-

quest have on Native Americans? 16. History When did Mexico win its inde-

pendence from Spain?

Section 3 Mexico Today 17. Government What are people in

Mexico demanding from the Mexican government?

18. Culture What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?

Chapter

2020Assessment

and ActivitiesAssessment

and Activities

552 CHAPTER 20

Place Location ActivityOn a separate sheet of paper,match the letters on the map withthe numbered places listed below.

1. Sierra Madre Occidental

2. Mexico City

3. Plateau of Mexico

4. Yucatán Peninsula

5. Baja California

6. Rio Grande

7. Gulf of Mexico

8. Guadalajara

9. Monterrey

10. Sierra Madre del Sur

Mexico

B

JF

A

C

E

I

H

G

D

Azimuthal Equidistant projection300

3000 mi.

0 km

N

S

EW

A.1. altitude

2. hurricane

3. vaquero

4. maquiladora

5. jade

6. adobe

7. plaza

8. smog

9. mural

10. subsistence farm

B.a. factory that assembles

parts from other countries

b. cowhand

c. sun-dried clay bricks

d. wall painting

e. height above sea level

f. fog mixed with smoke

g. produces only enoughto support a family’sneeds

h. fierce tropical storm

i. public square

j. shiny stone that comesin many shades ofgreen

Directions: Read the paragraph below, andthen answer the question that follows.

Test-Taking Tip: This question asks youto identify an opinion. An opinion is a per-son’s belief. It is not a proven fact (such asanswer F). Opinions often contain subjec-tive words, such as easier, best, or should.

The Aztec civilization was organized intoclasses. At the top was the emperor. Hispower came from his control of the armyand the religious beliefs of the people. Nextcame the nobles, followed by commoners.Commoners included priests, merchants, andartists. Below commoners were the serfs, orworkers who farmed the nobles’ fields.Slaves, the lowest class, included criminalsand people in debt, as well as female andchild prisoners of war. Male prisoners of warwere sacrificed to the Aztec gods. The Aztecbelieved that live human sacrifices wereneeded to keep the gods pleased and to pre-vent floods and other disasters.

1. Which of the following statements is anopinion about the information givenabove? F The Aztec civilization was organized

into classes. G Male prisoners of war were sacrificed to

the Aztec gods. H Slaves included children. J The Aztec should not have sacrificed

people to the gods.

Critical Thinking 19. Understanding Cause and Effect Why

have Mexico’s leaders encouraged free tradeagreements with other countries?

20. Analyzing Information If you wereMexico’s president, what would you do torid Mexico of the problems of illegal drugsand poverty?

Current Events Journal21. Writing a Brochure In this chapter, you

learned about Mexico’s economic and envi-ronmental challenges. Research the econ-omy of your city or town. Include the typesof industries, trading partners, and environ-mental effects of the industries. Share theinformation you gather by making abrochure. Include a map of your area.

Mental Mapping Activity22. Focusing on the Region Create a

simple outline map of Mexico. Refer to the physical map on page 476 and then labelthe following:

• Pacific Ocean • Gulf of Mexico • Yucatán Peninsula • Baja California • Mexico City • Rio Grande • Caribbean Sea

Technology Skills Activity23. Developing a Multimedia Presentation

Imagine that you work for Mexico’sEconomic Development Office. Create amultimedia presentation to present to agroup of foreign investors. Use a softwareapplication such as PowerPoint® to show-case positive features like climate, resources,and labor supply. Your goal is to showinvestors that Mexico is a good place forthem to invest their money.

553

Self-Check Quiz Visit the Our WorldToday: People, Places, and IssuesWeb site at and click onChapter 20—Self-Check Quizzes to prepare for the Chapter Test.

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