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40 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Isthmus
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narrow strip of land with water on either side connecting two larger land areas.
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sinkholes
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steep sided depressions that form when the roof of a cave collapses.
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conquistadors
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spanish conquerors of foreign lands during the colonial era.
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haciendas
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large spanish colonial estates usually owned by wealthy families but worked by many peasants.
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plaza
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open space in towns in mexico and other spanish speaking countries, often in front of a church.
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mestizos
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people of mixed european and american indian ancestry
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dictator
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a leader who rules with almost absolute authority
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cash crop
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crops grown for sale in a market
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maquiladoras
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special factories in mexico owned mainly by american companies.
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how big is mexico?
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almost three times the size of texas
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what 3 mountain ranges border the mexican plateau?
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sierra madre oriental, sierra madre occidental, and the sierra madre del sur
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how much above sea level is the mexican plateau? how would this affect the climate?
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7,500 feet above sea level. shortness of breath and lack of energy due to thin air.
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what is the highest volcano in mexico?
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orizaba
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how far apart are the atlantic ocean and the pacific ocean at the isthmus of tehuantepec?
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150 miles
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what is the flattest region in mexico? why are there no rives in this area?
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the yucatan peninsula. water drains through the limeston beneath the surface instead of flowing across it.
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what 3 factors influence mexico's climate?
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regional high-pressure system, northeast trade winds, elevation
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what is mexico's most important resource?
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petroleum
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what mineral is mexico the world's leading producer?
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silver
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what were the main crops that farmers grew in ancient mexico?
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beans, peppers, corn, and squash
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what is milpa?
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crops grown together in the same plot.
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name 5 groups of ancient people that have occupied/ruled mexico?
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maya, olmec, zapotec, toltec and aztec
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what was tenochtitlan?
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the aztec's capital city
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what factors enabled the spanish to conqueror aztec indians?
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muskets and horses
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what did the spanish call the newly conquered land?
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nuevo espana/new spain
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what is ejidos?
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lands they worked in common were called ejidos.
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who was the spanish conquistador that led the spanish invasion of mexico?
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hernan cortes
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who was the aztec ruler at the time of the spanish invasion?
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moctezuma
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why are most mexicans today roman catholic?
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because spanish missionaries spread roman catholocism throughout mexico.
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when did mexico win its independence from spain?
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1821
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how did mexico lose its northern territory in 1848?
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losing a war with the US
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why was there a mexican revolution? what happened due to the revolution?
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economic inequality;land distribution
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what kind of government resulted from the mexican revolution?
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democracy/democratic
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what does NAFTA stand for and what was the agreement?
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North American Free Trade Agreement;lowered trade barriers between mexico, canada and the US.
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how many states are located in mexico?
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31 and a district capital
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why is mexico city so polluted?
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mountains trap the pollution of thousands of factories, and millions of cars.
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what region of mexico is it's poorest?
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southern mexico and the yucatan peninsula
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in what ways is southern mexico the countries most traditional region?
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village life has changed little, subsistence agriculture is common, handicrafts provide most income, and still speak native language.
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what city in northern mexico has become mexico's industrial city of the north?
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monterrey
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what links with the US are found along mexico's region?
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maquiladoras, cultural links, and border cities.
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what are some important challenges facing mexico?
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politics becoming more democratic,health issues, crime, poor infrastructure, and economic inequality.
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