Chapter 8, Section 2Central America

The Big Idea: •Central America’s native traditions

and colonial history have created a mixed culture, unstable governments, and uncertain economies.

History

• The Maya built a large civilization and their descendants and customs can still be found in this region. • In the 1500s Spain controlled most of Central

America except Belize, a British colony.• The Spanish established large plantations.

Forced Central American Indians and enslaved Africans to work on plantations and gold mines.

History (continued) • Colonies of Central America declared

independence from Spain in 1821. Belize separated from Britain in 1981. Independence brought little change. • In the early to mid-1900s the U.S.-based

United Fruit Company controlled much of Central America’s banana production. •Many resented role of foreign owned

companies. Demand for reforms led to armed struggles.

Culture

People and Languages• Most people of Central America are

mestizos. Various Indian peoples live in the Guatemalan Highlands and people of African ancestry also make up a large minority. • Some still speak native Indian languages.

Spanish is the the official language of most Central American countries. (English is official language in Belize.)• Most people are Roman Catholic.

Central America Today• In 2005 Costa Rica, Dominican

Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua signed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the U.S. to help increase trade.• The countries of El Salvador, and

Nicaragua have seen conflict resulting in civil war. Conflict in Guatemala has resulted in many deaths. These economies are still affected.

Central America Today (continued)

• Ecotourism is a major industry in Belize.•Most people of Panama live near the

Panama Canal. Built in 1914, the canal was controlled by the U.S. until 1999.