SECTION

2 Central America
If YOU lived there...
TEKS 1A, 1B, 2B, 15A, 15B, 18A
You live in El Salvador, in a town that is still living with the effects of
a civil war 20 years ago. Your parents and your older neighbors still
What You Will Learn…
speak about those years with fear. One effect of the war was dam-
Main Ideas age to the economy. Many people have gone to Mexico to try to
1. The history of Central Amer- make a better life. Now your parents are talking about going there
ica was mostly influenced by
Spain. to look for work. But you are not sure.
2. The culture of Central
America is a mixture of Na-­ How do you feel about leaving your home?
tive American and European
traditions.
3. The countries of Central
America today have chal-
lenges and opportunities. Building Background All the countries of Central America
were once colonies of European nations. Years of colonial rule made
The Big Idea it hard for most of these countries to establish strong economies or
democratic governments. Today things are slowly improving.
Central America’s native
traditions and colonial history
have created a mixed culture,
unstable governments, and
uncertain economies.
History
Many countries of Central America have a shared history. This
shared history has been influenced by the Maya, the Spanish,
Key Terms and Places
ecotourism, p. 220 and the United States.
civil war, p. 220
Panama Canal, p. 221 Early History
In several Central American countries, the Maya were building
large cities with pyramids and temples by about AD 250. The
Maya abandoned most of their cities around 900, but the ruins
Use the graphic organizer online of many ancient cities still stand in the region today. People of
to organize your notes on Central
Maya descent still live in Guatemala and Belize. In fact, many
America.
ancient Maya customs still influence modern life there.
Hundreds of years later, in the early 1500s, most of Central
America came under European control. Spain claimed most
of the region. Britain claimed what is now Belize and also
occupied part of Nicaragua’s coast. The Spanish established
large plantations in their colonies to grow crops like tobacco
and sugarcane. They made Central American Indians work on
the plantations or in gold mines elsewhere in the Americas. In
addition, Europeans brought many enslaved Africans to the
region to work on plantations and in mines.

216 Chapter 9
 One-Crop Economies
The economies of many Cen-
tral American countries relied
on only one crop—bananas.
The U.S.-based United Fruit
Company was the biggest
banana exporter and the
largest employer in the region
for many years. The old photo
below shows the company’s
hiring hall in Guatemala.

Analyzing Visuals Why

do workers place cushions
between bananas?

Central America Since In the early to mid-1900s, one land-

Independence owner in particular, the U.S.-based United
The Spanish colonies of Central America Fruit Company, controlled most of the
declared independence from Spain in banana production in Central America. To
1821, but much of the region remained help its business, the company developed
joined together as the United Provinces of railroads and port facilities. This kind of
Central America. The countries of Costa development helped transportation and
Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, communications in the region.
and Guatemala separated from each other Many people resented the role of
in 1838 to 1839. Panama remained part of foreign companies, however. They thought
Colombia until 1903. Belize did not gain it was wrong that only a few people should
independence from Britain until 1981. own so much land while many people
For most countries in Central America, struggled to make a living. In the mid- to
independence brought little change. The late 1900s, demands for reforms led to
Spanish officials left, but wealthy land- armed struggles in Guatemala, El Salvador,
owners continued to run the countries and Nicaragua. Only in recent years have
and their economies. The plantation crops these countries achieved peace.
of bananas and coffee supported Central Reading Check Evaluating How did Spain
American economies. influence the region’s history?

Central America and the Caribbean 217

 Culture People of African ancestry also make up a
Central America’s colonial history has significant minority in this region. They
influenced its culture. The region’s people, live mostly along the Caribbean coast.
languages, religion, and festivals reflect In some countries in Central America,
both Spanish and native practices. many people still speak the native Indian
languages. In places that were colonized by
People and Languages England, English is spoken. For example,
Most of the people in Central America are it is the official language of Belize. In most
mestizos, or people of mixed European and countries, however, Spanish is the official
Indian ancestry. Various Indian peoples language. The Spanish colonization of
descended from the ancient Maya live in Central America left this lasting mark on
places such as the Guatemalan Highlands. the region.

Close-up

A Market in Guatemala
The Catholic church
Villages in Guatemala and all over Central America
is a major influence in
hold weekly markets. On market day, people come
most towns.
from all around to buy and sell food and other items.
The market is also an important gathering spot for
the community. Scenes like this one are typical in
the region.

Patterns on women’s
clothing are unique to
the village where the
woman lives.

218 Chapter 9
Religion, Festivals, and Food through the streets. Easter is a particularly
Many Central Americans practice a religion important holiday. Some towns decorate
brought to the region by Europeans. Most whole streets with designs made of flowers
people are Roman Catholic because Span- and colorful sawdust.
ish missionaries taught the Indians about
A CADEMIC
During festivals, people eat traditional V OCABULARY
Catholicism. However, Indian traditions foods. Central America shares some of its traditional
have influenced Catholicism in return. traditional foods, like corn, with Mexico. customary,
time-honored
Also, Protestant Christians are becoming a The region is also known for tomatoes, hot
large minority in places such as Belize. peppers, and cacao (kuh-kow), which is
Religion has influenced celebrations in the source of chocolate.
towns throughout the region. For example,
to celebrate special saints’ feast days, some Reading Check Contrasting How is Belize
people carry images of the saint in parades culturally different from the rest of the region?

Tourists contribute
to the local economy
when they buy crafts.

People often spend

all day at the market
and need to eat lunch
there.

ANALYSIS
skill Analyzing Visuals
How do the contributions of tourists
and Guatemalans affect the local
economy differently?

Central America and the Caribbean 219

 Ecotourism
A diver practices ecotourism as he
explores Belize’s coral reefs.

Analyzing Visuals What do you

think the diver saw in the coral reefs?

Belize
Belize has the smallest population in
Central America. The country does not
have much land for agriculture, either. But
ecotourism —the practice of using an area’s
natural environment to attract tourists—
has become popular lately. Tourists come
to see the country’s coral reefs, Maya ruins,
and coastal resorts.
Central America Today Honduras
The countries of Central America share
Honduras is a mountainous country. Most
similar histories and cultures. However,
people live in mountain valleys and along
they all face their own economic and
the northern coast. The rugged land makes
political challenges today. In 2005 Costa
transportation difficult and provides little
Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salva-
land where crops can grow. However, citrus
dor, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
fruits and bananas are important exports.
signed the Central American Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States El Salvador
to help increase trade among the countries.
In El Salvador, a few rich families own
much of the best land while most people
Guatemala
live in poverty. These conditions were a
Guatemala is the most populous country
reason behind a long civil war in the
in Central America. More than 13 million
1980s. A civil war is a conflict between two
people live there. About 60 percent of
or more groups within a country. The war
Guatemalans are mestizo and European.
killed many people and hurt the economy.
About 40 percent are Central American
El Salvador’s people have been working
Indians. Many speak Maya languages.
to rebuild their country since the end of
Most people in Guatemala live in small
the war in 1992. One advantage they have
villages in the highlands. Fighting between
in this rebuilding effort is the country’s
rebels and government forces there killed
fertile soil. People are able to grow and
some 200,000 people between 1960 and
export crops such as coffee and sugarcane.
1996. Guatemalans are still recovering
from this conflict. Nicaragua
Coffee, which grows well in the cool
Nicaragua has also been rebuilding since
highlands, is Guatemala’s most important
the end of a civil war. In 1979, a group
crop. The country also is a major producer
called the Sandinistas overthrew a dictator.
of cardamom, a spice used in Asian foods.

220 Chapter 9
Many Nicaraguans supported the Sandini- The Panama Canal provides a link
stas, but rebel forces aided by the United between the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean
States fought the Sandinistas for power. Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. The United
The civil war ended in 1990 when elec- States finished building the canal in 1914.
tions ended the rule of the Sandinistas. For years the Panama canal played an
Nicaragua is now a democracy. important role in the economy and politics
of the region. The United States controlled
Costa Rica the canal until 1999. Then, as agreed to in
Unlike most other Central American a treaty, Panama finally gained full control F OCUS ON
countries, Costa Rica has a history of peace. of the canal. R EADING
What word in the
It also has a stable, democratic government.
paragraphs on
The country does not even have an army. Reading Check Drawing Inferences Why
Costa Rica
Peace has helped Costa Rica make progress do you think Panama might want control of the signals contrast?
in reducing poverty. canal?
Agricultural products like coffee and
bananas are important to Costa Rica’s
economy. Also, many tourists visit Costa   
SUmmary and PReview Native   peoples,
Rica’s rich tropical rain forests. European colonizers, and the United
States have influenced Central America’s
Panama history and culture. Today most coun-
Panama is the narrowest, southernmost tries are developing stable governments.
country of Central America. Most people Their economies rely on tourism and
live in areas near the Panama Canal. Canal agriculture. In the next section you will
fees and local industries make the canal learn about the main influences on the
area the country’s most prosperous region. Caribbean islands and life there today.

Section 2 Assessment ONLINE QUIZ

Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and Places Critical Thinking

1. a. Recall What parts of Central America did the 4. Summarizing Copy the graphic organizer below.
British claim? Using your notes, write at least one important fact
b. Analyze How did independence affect most about each Central American country today.
Central American countries? Guatemala
c. Elaborate What benefits and drawbacks might Belize
there be to the United Fruit Company’s owning so Honduras
much land? El Salvador
2. a. Identify What language do most people in Nicaragua
Central America speak? Costa Rica
Panama
b. Explain How have native cultures influenced
cultural practices in the region today?
3. a. Define What is a civil war, and where in
Focus on Writing
Central America has a civil war been fought?
b. Explain Why might some people practice 5. Describing Central America Note details about
ecotourism? the history, culture, and life today of people in
c. Elaborate Why is the Panama Canal important Central America. Which details will appeal to people
to Panama? Why is it important to other countries? who are thinking of visiting the region?

Central America and the Caribbean 221