This document provides an overview of key economic, political, and social terms related to Latin America. It defines different types of economies including traditional, market, command, and industrialized economies. It also outlines different forms of government such as communist states, republics, and parliamentary democracies. Additionally, it defines common geographic features of Latin America like the Andes Mountains, pampas grasslands, and isthmuses.

1. Latin America Key Terms

2. Latin America Mexico Central America South America Caribbean Islands

4. hunting

7. what can be sold

8. who can work

9. what you are paidRaul Castro is the President of Cuba.

10. communism Government has strong control of the economy and society What happens is a commandeconomy.

11. socialism type of economy Property and labor will be distributed (spread) more equally

12. embargo to stop (ban) The U.S. used an embargo to stoptrade with Cuba An armsembargo means a country cannot get weapons

13. Free Trade Zone Area where people can buy goods from other countries without paying extra taxes This increases trade A “F.T.Z.” doesn’t have this “wall.”

15. more factories and manufacturing

17. hotel manager

18. waiter

19. nurse Taxi driver in Buenos Aires, Argentina

25. labor union Workers join together They fight for higher wages, workers’ rights and better working conditions

26. NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement includes: Mexico, the U.S., and Canada

27. maquiladora Factory Workers put parts together and then ship products to another country to be sold 1/2 of Mexicans work in one

29. communist state Type of government Government believes in communism It has a commandeconomy Cuba is a communist state.

30. commonwealth A territory They control a part of the government (self-governing) Another country controls some of the government Puerto Rico is a commonwealth. So far, the people have voted not to become a U.S. state.

31. nationalize The government takes control of Usually farms and businesses Castro nationalized farms and factories in Cuba when it became a communiststate.

33. country with a president

34. the president is electedPanama is a republic.

36. Head of government is a Prime Minister

37. PM is chosen by the legislatureBelize is a parliamentarydemocracy.

38. mestizos mixed people They have Spanish and Native American blood Many people in L.A. have a mixed heritage

40. haze of fog and chemicals in the air

41. problem in many citiesSmog in Mexico City.

42. samba party dance important tradition in Brazil Popular in large parades Rio Carnival in Brazil.

43. campesino “farmer” or “farm worker” (peasant) Usually a campesino does only subsistencefarming

44. absolve To judge someone as not guilty

47. Usually a country with a high literacy rate has a good economyA school in Mexico

50. connects to larger areas of landIsthmus of Panama.

51. archipelago A chain or cluster of islands There are many archipelagos in the Caribbean Sea.

52. selva The word used in Brazil for rain forest jungle

53. deforestation Permanent removal of woodland many animals lose their homes many plants die big problem in the Amazon rain forest