Central America Lesson #3A

History

Activating Strategy Respond to this question (in complete

sentences)on the back of your cover page. Keep your answer near the top of the page.

Why is it important for colonies to establish a strong governing system when they gain independence?

Essential Question How would you describe the political

past of Central America?

Define the vocabulary.On the back of your cover page, write the definition for:

Legacy

legacy Anything handed down from an ancestor

Europe – melons, lettuce, onions Spanish – Bananas, rice, yams

How would you describe the political past of Central America?Begin to work on the following

assignment independently. Turn to page 208. Read page 208-209. Create a time line of important events that

tell about the political past of Central America.

Use the graphic organizer provided.

Central America’s Political Past

1821- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua become independent from Spain.1821- Mexico won its independence and united for a time with the five independent Central American countries.1823- Mexico separated from Central American countries and forms a federation: The United Provinces of Central America.

Central America’s Political Past

1824- The Federations constitution was completed which provided for state’s right and put an end to the special privileges of the wealthy land owners.Late 1830’s- Each country becomes an independent republic.

** Time of dictators, civil war, and guerilla attacks.

Central America’s Political Past

1800-1900’s- Conflicts over the control of government continued in Nicaragua. 1987- Sanchez, the President of Costa Rica, won the Noble Peace Prize for creating a peace plan for Central America. They sign an agreement with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Place this on the back of your lesson packet.

BelizeThe first recorded European settlement was established by shipwrecked English seamen in 1638. Over the next 150 years, more English settlements were established. This period also was marked by piracy, indiscriminate logging, and sporadic attacks by Indians and neighboring Spanish settlers.Granted independence September 21, 1981.

Place this on the back of your lesson packet.

PanamaIndians were the first inhabitants.Spaniards conquered the Indians in the 1500’s and ruled until 1821. In 1821, Panama became a province of Colombia. In 1903, it rebelled against Colombia and became an independent nation.