Chapter 3
Latin America
Cultures of Latin America

Vocabulary

Carnival		An annual celebration in Latin America with music, dances, and parades
diversity		Variety
emigrate		Move out of one country into another
ethnic group		Group of people who share language, religion, and cultural traditions
immigrant		A person who has moved into one country from another
import		To bring products into one country from another to sell
indigenous		Describes people who are descendants of the people who first lived in a region
injustice		Lack of fairness
maquiladora		A United States owned factory in mexico that is located close to the United States-Mexico border
subsistence farming		The practice of growing only as much food as a group of people needs to survive

Key People and Places

Andes Argentina Brazil Chile Cuba Hispaniola Jamaica Mexico City Trinidad and Tobago

Sample Essay Questions

1. Choose two of the three regions of Latin America. Think about what you know about the cultures of these two regions. What are two similarities and two differences in their cultures? Explain the reasons for these similarities and differences.

You should choose two regions and explain the two similarities and two differences in their cultures. As an example: All cultures in Latin America show Native American influences, the Roman Catholic religion is very influential throughout Latin America, and many people in all three regions speak Spanish. Differences are that most Brazilians speak Portuguese and the Caribbean region's culture has been influenced by Africans.

2. How might the cultures of Latin America be different if the Spanish and Portuguese had never arrived? What kind of culture do you think would dominate the region today?

Most likely indigenous cultures would have been more dominant. There would probably not have been a single dominant language or religion throughout Latin America. Rather, all areas or countries might be more distinct in their languages or religions. Or it is possible that the cultures of other colonial powers, such as England or France, would have had more influence in Latin America. Perhaps English or French would be spoken throughout Latin America today.

3. Explain why there is so much variety in the cultures of the Caribbean islands.

Spanish, Dutch, French, and English colonists came to the Caribbean islands in hopes of making money from the region. they brought enslaved Africans to work on plantations. These many backgrounds gave the region a variety of cultures.

4. How are the cultures in South America like the cultures in Mexico? How are they different?

Many cultures in South America and Mexico are influenced by Native Americans and backgrounds as well as the Spanish conquerors. some cultures in South America are different, though. for example, many Brazilians speak Portuguese, and indigenous people in the Andes speak the languages of Quechua and Aymara people.