Name: ____________________

World Geography

Unit 3: Latin America

Chapter 7- Physical Geography of Latin America

Chapter 8- History and Cultures of Latin America

Chapter 9- Latin America Today

Psalm 67:4- May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the

peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.

First Things First:

List four questions below that you have about Latin America:

1. _________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________

4. _________________________________________________________

5. How might a wide variety of physical features affect

transportation and communications within a region? ________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

6. In what ways can language and religion both unite and divide a

region? __________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

7. What human activities benefit the environment and what activities

harm it? _______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Chapter 7 Notes- Physical Geography of Latin America

Essential Question- How might a wide variety of physical features affect transportation and communications within a region? ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 1- Physical Features Landforms

Geographers divide the region of Latin America into ___________ subregions: _______________ America, the ______________, and ____________ America. Middle America is made up of ____________ and ________________ America. Central America is an isthmus, or a narrow piece of land that links North America and South America.

_______________ ranges run along Mexico’s eastern and western coasts with a high ______________ between. Central America has mountains and lowlands along its coasts. Thick _____________, rugged mountains, and coastal marshes make it difficult to transport goods in that country.

The islands of the Caribbean Sea, also known as the _________________, are divided into the ____________ Antilles, the _____________ Antilles, and the _______________. The Greater Antilles include the largest islands- __________, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.

The Lesser Antilles is an __________________, or group of islands, curving from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad. The third group is the Bahamas, another archipelago.

____________ has about half of the Caribbean’s land area. Some islands are low-lying, but others, formed by ________________, have rugged mountains. Some volcanoes are still active and can be damaging, but the __________ volcanic soil is good for growing sugarcane and tobacco.

The _____________ mountain ranges and the vast ____________ Basin are South America’s major landforms. The Andes, the world’s longest mountain system, are a cordillera and stretch along the ____________ coast of South America for about ____________ miles. Between the mountain chains lie plateaus and valleys, where most people ________ and farm.

The Amazon Basin is a low-lying area formed the Amazon _________ and covering 2.7 _____________ square miles. Highlands to the north and south border the basin. The Brazilian Highlands end in an __________________, a series of steep cliffs that drop down to the Atlantic coastal plain.

Tropical grasslands known as the ___________ stretch through eastern Colombia and Venezuela. Another well known plain, the ____________, covers much of Argentina and Uruguay and provides grazing land for beef cattle and fertile soil for growing ____________.

Waterways

The Amazon, Latin America’s ______________ river, starts in the Andes and flows east about ___________ miles to the Atlantic Ocean. Heavy rains and many tributaries, or small rivers that flow into a larger river, feed the Amazon.

Three other rivers- the ________________, _______________, and _______________- form Latin America's ____________ largest river system. These rivers flow into the Rio de la Plata- a broad estuary, or area where river currents and ocean tides meet- which meets the Atlantic Ocean.

The ______________ Rover flows through Venezuela to the Caribbean Sea, carrying fertile soil into the Llanos region. Venezuela’s Lake ________________ is South America’s largest lake and contains some of Venezuela’s ________ fields.

Lake ________________ lies between Bolivia and Peru. About __________ feet above sea level, it is the world’s ____________ lake that can be used by large ships.

The _____________ Canal, a ____________ made waterway, stretches across the narrow Isthmus of Panama. Ships use the canal to shorten travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

A Wealth of Natural Resources

Latin America’s largest country, ____________, is more than 55 percent ____________, including a large area of tropical rain forests. The rain forests provide timber, ___________, palm oil, and Brazil nuts.

Brazil has large amounts of bauxite, gold, and tin but limited oil and natural gas reserves. Its deposits of iron ore and manganese help support one of the world’s largest iron and _________ industries. To reduce its dependence on oil imports, Brazil uses _____________ produced from sugarcane and gasoline to produce a fuel for cars called _______________.

________________ has the region’s largest oil and _____________ gas reserves, and Mexico has large amounts of oil and natural gas along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Both countries use the supplies for their

own energy needs as well as for exports. _____________ and Ecuador also have valuable oil and natural gas deposits.

_____________ is mined in Mexico and Peru, and Venezuela has rich iron ore deposits. Colombian mines produce the world’s finest _______________, while Chile is the world’s largest exporter of copper.

The Caribbean islands generally have relatively ________ mineral resources, although Jamaica has large deposits of bauxite. Cuba mines nickel, and the Dominican Republic mines gold and silver. The Central American countries of __________________ and Guatemala have rich gold deposits, but political conflicts and _______________ problems make mining these deposits difficult.

Section 2- Climate Regions Hot to Mild Climates

Most of Latin America lies within the ______________- the area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area has generally warm temperatures because it receives the direct rays of the sun for much of the year. However, mountain ranges and ___________ patterns create a variety of climates in the region.

A ______________________ climate is found in some Caribbean islands and much of Central America and South America. This climate is marked by year round ________ temperatures and ______________ rainfall. Vast areas of ________________ cover much of this climate zone.

A rain forest is a dense stand of tress and other plants that receives high amounts of ______________. Warm temperatures and heavy rains facilitate the growth of rain forests.

South America’s Amazon basin is home to the world’s ______________ rain forest with more species of plants and animals per square mile than anywhere else on __________. Trees there grow so close together that their tops form a dense ____________, an umbrella like covering of leaves.

From June to November, _____________________ often strike the Caribbean Islands. The heavy winds and rain of these storms can cause considerable damage. Still, many Caribbean islands have used their warm climate and beautiful beaches to build a strong _____________ industry.

___________________ climates are found in the parts of South America that lie south of the Tropic of Capricorn. A humid subtropical climate dominates much of southeastern South America, from southern Brazil to the Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay. This means that winters are _________ and mild, and summers are __________, hot, and humid.

Central ___________ has a Mediterranean climate that features dry summers and rainy winters. Farther south is a _______________________ climate zone. In this area, rainfall is ____________ and falls throughout the year.

Along the Pacific coast of northern Chile and in the rain shadow of the Andes lies the ____________ Desert, one of the ____________ places on Earth. Winds from the Atlantic Ocean bring rain to the regions east of the Andes, but they carry no moisture past them.

The cold __________ Current in the Pacific Ocean does not evaporate as much moisture as a warm current does. As a result, only dry air hits the coasts.

Weather in South America is strongly influenced by the _____________ effect. This is a set of changes in air pressure, temperature, and rainfall that begins in the Pacific Ocean.

When El Nino takes place, the Pacific waters off Peru’s coast are unusually _____________. As a result, winds blowing toward land carry heavy rains that lead to severe ________________ along Peru’s coast. El Niño can also bring a long dry season to northeastern Brazil, causing crop failures.

Elevation and Climate

Mountains and highlands cover much of ___________ America. Altitude, a place’s height above _________ level, affects climate in these rugged areas.

Mountains and highlands cover much of Latin America. The Andes, for example, have __________ altitude zones of climate.

The Tierra _______________, or ―hot land,‖ refers to the hot and humid elevations near sea level. The average temperature range is between 75 and 80 degrees F. There is little change from one month to another.

Higher up the mountains- from 3,000 feet to 6,000 feet- the air becomes cooler. Abundant rainfall encourages the growth of forests. This zone of moist, pleasant climates is called the Tierra ________________, or ―temperate land.‖ The mild temperatures- between 65 and 75 degrees F- make it the most densely populated of the climate zones.

The next zone is the Tierra _________, or ―cold land.‖ It begins at 6,000 feet and stretches up to 10,000 feet. Average yearly temperatures here can be as low as 55 degrees F. The Tierra Fria has forested and grassy areas. Farming can take place in this zone in the warmer summers.

The Tierra ______________, or ―frozen land,‖ is the zone of highest elevation. It lies above 10,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Conditions here can be harsh. The climate is cold, and the temperature can be as low as 20 degrees F. Relatively few people live at these heights.

Chapter 8- History and Cultures of Latin America Essential Question- In what ways can language and religion both unite and divide a region? ___________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 1- History and Governments Early History

The _____________ civilization of southern Mexico lasted from 1500 B.C. to 300 B.C.

Some Olmec cities specialized in _____________, growing maize, or corn, and squash and beans.

Others controlled important mineral resources such as ____________ and _______________, a hard, black, volcanic glass.

The ___________ lived in Mexico’s _______________ Peninsula and surrounding areas between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900.

They used __________________ to record their history.

About A.D. 900, the Maya civilization _____________________ collapsed.

Next, the _________ seized what is now northern ____________, building the city of Tula and conquering lands all the way to the Yucatán Peninsula.

Around A.D. 1200, the ____________ people from the north moved into central Mexico and captured Tula.

___________________ was the Aztec capital.

During the 1400s, the ___________ empire, in what is now _______ in South America, stretched more than 2,500 miles (4,023 km) along the Andes.

The Inca ruler put in place a complex system of _____________ keeping.

In 1519 a Spanish Army led by Hernán _____________ marched to Tenochtitlán, Mexico, and overtook the Aztec.

In 1532 Francisco ________________ attacked the Inca, killed the ruler, and conquered that empire.

The Aztec and Inca conquests allowed Spain to build an empire that included much of South America, the _________________, Middle America, and parts of present-day United States.

_________________ took control of what is today Brazil.

France, Britain, and the ________________ overtook some Caribbean areas and parts of North America.

The arrival of the ________________ transformed the populations of these lands by settling the land, setting up colonial governments, and spreading __________ among the Native Americans.

They also used _____________ Americans as workers to grow cash crops.

Eventually, European landowners brought _______________ Africans for labor. Forming New Nations

In 1804, enslaved Africans under François-Dominique Toussaint-L’Ouverture threw off French rule in ______________.

Haiti became the only nation ___________ created as a result of a revolt by enslaved people.

Despite many battles, Mexicans did not gain their __________________ until 1821, becoming a republic in 1823.

That same year, the countries of Central America won their freedom from ____________.

In 1819 Simón _________________ won freedom from the Spanish for the present-day countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

In 1817 José de San Martín liberated ________________.

A few years later, San Martín and Bolívar jointly defeated the _____________ in Peru.

By the end of the 1820s, all of Spain’s and Portugal’s colonies in Latin America had won their _________________________.

Many of the new Latin American countries ________________ slavery.

Many Latin American nations hoped their countries would become stable __________________ with prosperous economies.

Obstacles arose, however, including conflict over the role of ______________ in their society, boundary lines, tensions between the rich and poor, and leaders known as __________________ who often ruled as dictators.

During the late 1800s, ____________________ from the United States and Europe set up companies throughout Latin America, exporting such products as bananas, sugar, coffee, copper, and oil.

Some Latin American countries decided to grow only one or two __________ products.

_____________ and profits increased as a result, but a decline in demand caused prices to drop, followed by losses in income and jobs.

Benefits to Latin America’s dependence on _______________ included foreign investors who built ports, roads, and railroads; in turn, these caused city growth and the creation of a ________________ class.

In 1898 the United States and Spain fought a war over Spanish-ruled ________. Spain was defeated, and Cuba became a _____________ under U.S. protection.

The United States also gained control of _____________________.

In 1903 the United States helped _______________ win its freedom from Colombia and gained permission to build the Panama Canal.

Over the next 25 years, American troops landed in Haiti, _________________, and the Dominican Republic to protect U.S. political and economic interests.

In the mid-1900s, Latin American leaders borrowed heavily from banks in other countries, acquiring a large ___________ that weakened their economies.

Prices rose, ____________ fell, and people lost jobs.

Dissatisfied political and social groups in some countries _______________ against leaders who ruled ruthlessly or were in power too long.

In 1959 a young lawyer named Fidel ______________ carried out a revolution in Cuba and set up a ___________________ state.

In ___________________, fighters supported by Castro battled government troops armed by the United States.

Difficult _________________ and political reforms in the 1980s helped strengthen many Latin American countries, but these changes were often harsh and turned many Latin Americans against dictators.

During the 1990s, ______________ movements succeeded in several countries.

Latin America’s ________________ is growing rapidly, but resources are limited.

Growing trade in _______________ drugs has increased crime and corruption, and tensions still exist between rich and poor.

In the early 2000s, angry voters in Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, and Chile elected new leaders who promised _____________ that would weaken the power of the wealthy and benefit the poor.

Section 2- Cultures and Lifestyles The People

Latin America’s highest _________________ are in Central America.

________________ and Honduras are expected to double in population by 2050.

Most Latin Americans live in the favorable climates along the coasts of South America in an area reaching from Mexico into ________________ America.

Migration to Latin America has included Europeans, Africans, and __________, either willingly or by force.

Some Latin Americans ______________ to the United States.

All of these new arrivals bring ______________ of their culture with them.

Latin Americans also move _____________ their country or the region.

In certain ___________ areas, population growth has resulted in a shortage of fertile land, and smaller farms cannot support large families.

People often leave to find jobs elsewhere, usually in cities, resulting in _______________.

Today most Latin Americans live in ________________ growing cities.

In South America, about ____ percent of people live in cities, but in Central America and the Caribbean, only about _____ percent are urban dwellers.

Most Latin Americans leave _____________ for the cities to find better jobs, schools, housing, and health care.

As city populations grow, jobs and housing become __________ and many people find themselves in miserable conditions.

Latin America’s people include Native Americans, Europeans, Africans, Asians, and __________________ of these groups.

Most of Latin America’s Native Americans live in Mexico; Central America; and the Andes countries of ________________, Peru, and Bolivia.

Since the 1400s, millions of Europeans, mostly Spanish or Portuguese, have settled in Latin America. ________________, British, French, and Germans have come as well.

In the 1800s, many Spanish and Italian immigrants settled in _______________, Uruguay, and Chile, so these three nations today are mainly populated by people of _________________ descent.

African Latin Americans form a high percentage of the populations in the Caribbean islands and northeastern _________________.

They are descended from _________________ Africans brought as laborers during colonial days.

Large ______________ populations live in the Caribbean islands and some countries of South America.

In ________________ about one-half of the population is of South Asian or Southeast Asian ancestry.

Many people of _______________ descent make their homes in Peru, Mexico, and Cuba.

About 1 million people of ___________________ descent live in Brazil.

In countries such as Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Colombia, _________, or people of mixed Native American and European descent, make up the largest part of the population.

In Cuba, the ___________________________, and Brazil, people of mixed African and European descent form a large percentage of the population.

_______________ is the most widely spoken language in Latin America, but Brazilians mostly speak ______________________.

Native American ___________________ are still spoken in many countries.

______________, spoken centuries ago by the Inca, is an official language of Peru and Bolivia.

In the Caribbean, English and ______________ are widely spoken.

In some countries, people have developed a ______________ language by combining parts of different languages.

An example is _______________, spoken in Haiti. Daily Life

During colonial times, most Latin Americans became _______________, and Christianity still has the most followers.

Roman ________________ form the largest Christian group, but in recent years missionaries have encouraged many people to convert to _________________ forms of Christianity.

Many traditional Native American and _______________ religions thrive, often mixed with Christianity and other faiths.

_______________, Hinduism, and Buddhism, brought by Asian immigrants, are practiced in the Caribbean region and coastal areas of South America.

________________ has followers in the largest Latin American cities.

_________________ is popular throughout the region. _______________ is popular in Cuba, the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America.

________________ is also a favorite sport.

Each spring, many countries hold a large festival called _______________ on the last day before the Christian holy period called Lent.

On Mexico’s holiday known as the Day of the ____________, people honor family members who have died.

The ____________ of Latin America blend the traditions of the region’s many peoples.

___________ and beans are important in Mexico and Central America.

Beans and __________ are popular in the islands of the Caribbean and in Brazil.

Fresh ____________ from the sea is also important in those areas.

____________ is the national dish in Argentina and Chile.

Cuban music is famous for its use of ________________ rhythms.

The music of Cuba and Brazil has shaped American ____________.

During the 1930s, Mexican artists such as Diego _______________ painted murals, or large paintings on walls, that recall the artistic traditions of the ancient Maya and Aztec

In Latin America, many writers have used their work to comment on _________ and political conflicts.

Latin American writers of the late 1900s invented an influential style of writing called __________________________ that combines fantastic events with the ordinary.

Chapter 9- World Geography-Latin America Today

Essential Question- What human activities benefit the environment, and what activities harm it? _________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 1- Mexico Mexico’s People, Government, and Culture

Many Mexican cities are organized around large ______________, or public squares, that serve as centers of public life.

Mexico is a __________________ republic.

The president has more power than the legislative and judicial branches but can serve only one _____-year term.

After a revolution in the early 1900s, _____ political party ruled Mexico for decades, but in 2000, voters elected a president from a new party.

Mexican culture reveals both ____________________ and Native American influences.

Folk arts are deeply rooted in Native American traditions, while favorite sports, such as ________________, were brought from Europe.

Mexican artists and writers include Diego Rivera and his wife, Frida Kahlo, who were well-known for their ____________________.

Carlos Fuentes and Octavio Paz have _______________ works about the values of Mexico’s people.

Mexicans enjoy celebration called ________________ that include parades, fireworks, music, and dancing.

_____________ is an important part of Mexican fiestas. Mexico’s Economy and Society

Mexico’s North region has large stretches of land that are dry and rocky, so farmers have built ___________ to carry water to fields of cotton, grains, fruits, and vegetables grown for export.

_________________________ in the North support cattle ranches.

Mexican cowhands are called ____________________.

The North also profits from rich deposits of ______________, zinc, iron, lead, and silver.

Manufacturing is located in cities such as ___________________, Tijuana, and Ciudad Juárez, near or along the Mexico–United States border.

Many foreign companies have built __________________________, or factories in which workers assemble parts made in other countries. The finished products are then exported.

Central Mexico holds more than ___________ of Mexico’s people.

Although it is situated in the Tropics, this area has a high ___________________ that keeps it from being hot and humid.

Temperatures are mild, and the climate is ____________________ year-round.

Fertile soil created by volcanic eruptions over the centuries allows for productive __________________.

Large industrial cities, such as Mexico City and ___________________________, prosper in central Mexico.

Workers make cars, clothing, household items, and _____________________ goods.

The coastal area along the Gulf of Mexico is a center of Mexico’s energy industry because of offshore _____ and gas deposits.

Mexico’s South is the _____________________ economic region.

The ______________________ in the center of this region have poor soil.

_______________________ farms are common here.

Coastal ______________ have good soil and abundant rain.

Wealthy farmers grow sugarcane or bananas on _____________________.

Both coasts in the South have beautiful _________________ and a warm climate.

Resorts at Acapulco on the Pacific coast and ________________ on the Caribbean coast’s Yucatán Peninsula attract tourists from around the world.

As Mexico’s economy has grown, __________________ has increased.

The mountains that surround Mexico City trap car _____________ and factory smoke, resulting in smog, an unhealthy, thick haze of fog and chemicals, often covering the city.

Mexico’s population has grown rapidly in recent decades, and many people have moved to the ___________ to find jobs.

Because many jobs pay low wages, people have been crowded together in _______________.

Many Mexicans who cannot find work become __________________ workers, or people who travel to find work when extra help is needed to plant or harvest crops.

They legally and sometimes ___________________ cross Mexico’s long border to work in the United States.

Despite low pay, migrant workers can earn ____________ in the United States than in Mexico. Section 2- Central America and the Caribbean Countries of Central America

___________________________ has rugged mountains, thick forests, and blue lakes.

About half its people are descended from the ancient ___________ but many others are of mixed Maya and Spanish origin.

Maya languages and _________________ are spoken.

Guatemala has fertile ________________ soil.

Most of the land is owned by a _______________ group of people who hold most of the wealth and power.

During the late 1990s, rebel groups fought the government for control of the land, resulting in more than _____________________ people killed or missing.

In the past, many Guatemalan farmers produced only ___________________ and coffee, but today they are shifting production to other crops that have higher values, such as fruits, flowers, and spices.

In 2004, Guatemala and its Central American neighbors agreed to ___________ trade, or removal of trade barriers, with the United States in the hope of selling more of their goods to their northern neighbor.

In _______________________, a stable democracy rules, and no wars have been fought within or outside the country since the 1800s.

As a result, Costa Rica has no ___________—only a police force to keep law and order.

Costa Rica also has _____________ poor people than other Central American countries.

One reason is a higher _________________________, or the percentage of people who can read and write.

Workers with _________________ skills can be more productive and earn higher incomes.

_________________ lies on the narrowest part of Central America.

It is best known for the Panama Canal, which shortens distance and travel time between the _____________ and Pacific oceans.

In 1999 the United States gave Panama ________________ of the canal.

Today, fees that ships pay to use the canal go to Panama, and the commerce brought by the canal has made the country an important ____________________ center.

Countries of the Caribbean

_____________ lies about 90 miles south of Florida.

It has a _____________________ economy, in which the communist government decides how resources are used and what goods and services are produced.

To end Cuba’s past dependence on sugar exports, the government is developing ___________________ and other industries, although these efforts have not yet succeeded.

The country’s longtime dictator, Fidel Castro, tightly controls society, and people who criticize the government are often ________________ and jailed.

In ______________, conflicts among political groups have made for an unstable government, and most of Haiti’s people are poor.

A major source of income is ________________________, or money sent back home by Haitians who work in other countries.

Since 1952, Puerto Rico has been a ____________________________, or a self-governing territory, of the United States.

Puerto Ricans are American ________________, and they can come and go as they wish between Puerto Rico and the United States mainland.

Section 3- South America Brazil

Brazil is the _______-largest country in the world and the largest in South America.

The country is known for its Amazon rain forest, which Brazilians call the ___________________.

With 187 million people, Brazil has the _________________ population of all Latin American countries.

The culture is largely _______________________, but today’s Brazilians are of European, African, Native American, Asian, or mixed ancestry.

Almost of them speak a ______________________ form of Portuguese, which includes words from Native American and African languages.

___________________________ and Rio de Janeiro are among the largest cities in the world.

In recent years, millions of Brazilians have moved from rural areas to coastal cities to find better jobs, often settling in ____________________, or overcrowded slum areas that surround many Brazilian cities.

To reduce city crowding, the government now encourages people to move back to less-populated, __________________ areas.

In 1960 Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to the newly built city of _________________, 600 miles inland, and now home to more than 2 million people.

Brazil grows more __________________, oranges, and cassava than any other country.

Brazil’s agricultural success is due to farmers having cleared more rain forest land to grow crops, using new use machinery to perform many tasks, and planting crops that have been _______________________ changed to produce more and to prevent disease.

Brazil has valuable _______________ resources, such as iron ore, bauxite, tin, manganese, gold, silver, and diamonds.

Offshore deposits of oil, as well as ______________________ power from rivers, supply the country with energy.

Brazil also uses ________________________ to produce a substitute for gasoline.

Most __________________________ takes place in São Paulo and other southeastern cities.

Factory workers produce machinery, _______________, cars, food products, medicines, paper, and clothing.

Brazil’s Amazon rain forest is the world’s largest rain forest area, yet it also has the highest rate of ______________________.

To increase jobs and make products for export, Brazil’s government has encouraged mining, ____________, and farming in the rain forest.

Tropical forests give off huge amounts of ___________________ and play a role in maintaining the Earth’s climate patterns.

They also provide shelter to many _______________ species that may not survive if deforestation continues.

Although the rain forest belongs to Brazil, deforestation is a _______________ issue, and other nations have convinced Brazil to protect at least part of the rain forest from economic development.

Argentina

Argentina is South America’s ___________________-largest country after Brazil.

The Andes are in the west. South and east of the Andes is a dry, windswept plateau called _____________.

In the center of Argentina are vast ___________________ plains known as the Pampas.

About 85 percent of Argentina’s people are of ___________________ ancestry, especially Spanish and Italian.

More than one-third of the country’s population lives in the __________________, Buenos Aires.

Argentina’s economy depends heavily on farming and ________________________.

Huge ranches cover the ____________________.

There, ____________________, or cowhands, raise livestock.

_____________ and beef products are Argentina’s chief exports.

Argentina is one of the most ________________________ countries in South America.

Most ___________________ are in or near Buenos Aires.

They produce food products, cars, _______________________, and textiles.

Zinc, iron ore, and copper are mined in the Andes. Oil fields lie on the ______________ and in Patagonia.

Argentina borrowed money from foreign banks during the late 1900s, creating a high __________________, or money owed by the government.

When the country had to ________________, or miss a debt payment, people in other countries stopped investing in Argentina’s businesses, causing a severe economic slowdown.

Recently the economy has recovered, and part of the debt has been ____________ off.

After independence in the early 1800s, Argentina was torn apart by ______________ war.

By the mid-1850s, a strong _____________________ government had emerged, and Argentina prospered.

During the early 1900s, the military took over, and Juan ____________ became a dictator in the late 1940s.

Perón tried to improve the economy and to help the workers, but he also restricted freedom of ___________ and the press.

In 1955 a revolt drove Perón from power and restored __________________.

Military officers again took control of Argentina in the ____________.

They ruled harshly and secretly seized and ____________ thousands of people they believed opposed their policies.

Argentina is now a democratic federal _________________, consisting of a national government and 28 provincial governments.

The nation has a powerful _____________________ who is elected every four years.

Laws are made by a ________-house legislature.

A Supreme Court heads a system of _______________________. Other Countries of South America

___________________ lies along the Caribbean Sea in northern South America.

It is one of the world’s leading producers of ___________ and natural gas.

Venezuela also benefits from mining bauxite, gold, __________________, and emeralds.

The country’s factories make steel, chemicals, and _______________ products.

Farmers grow ______________________ and bananas or raise cattle.

In 1998 Venezuelans elected Hugo __________________ as president.

Chávez promised to use oil money to better the lives of Venezuela’s _______________.

His strong rule, however, split the country into ___________________ groups.

____________________ has coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

The Andes rise in the ________________.

Nearly 80 percent of Colombia’s people live in the _______________ and highland plateaus of the Andes.

________________ is the capital and largest city.

Colombia has coal, oil, and copper and is the world’s leading supplier of ____________________.

Coffee, bananas, sugarcane, ______________, and cotton are exports.

Despite these economic strengths, Colombia has much political _________________.

________________ remains in the hands of a few, and many people are poor.

Since the 1970s, rebel forces have fought the __________________ and now control parts of the country.

________________ dealers are a major problem in Colombia.

They pay farmers to grow ______________ leaves, which are used to make the illegal drug cocaine.

The ____________________________ has lent Colombia support in an effort to break the power of these dealers.

___________ lies along the southern Pacific coast of South America.

It has an unusual _____________________ shape that is 2,652 miles (4,268 km) long and an average of 110 miles (177 km) wide.

Chile’s landscapes range from extremely dry desert in the north to __________ formations in the south.

__________________ forms the backbone of Chile’s economy.

Chile is a major world producer of copper and also mines and exports gold, silver, iron ore, and ____________________________, a mineral used in fertilizer and explosives.

________________________ is also a major economic activity.

Farmers produce ______________, corn, beans, sugarcane, potatoes, grapes, and apples.

Many people also raise cattle, sheep, and other _____________________.

Northern Chile’s _____________________ industry is the largest in South America.

COUNTRY CAPITAL

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

French Guiana

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Jamaica

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Puerto Rico

St. Kitts-Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname

Trinidad and Tobago

Uruguay

Venezuela

Virgin Islands