Geography and Politics of Latin America

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and definitions related to the geography, history, and political aspects of Latin America, based on the lecture notes.

Latin America

Region including countries in South and Central America predominantly speaking Spanish and Portuguese.

Tectonic plates

Large sections of Earth's crust that move and interact, causing geological activity and landform creation.

Subduction zone

Area where one tectonic plate slides under another, often causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Amazon River

The largest river by volume in the world, located in South America with a drainage area of 2.4 million square miles.

Atacama Desert

A desert in Chile, known as one of the driest places on Earth.

Andes Mountains

A major mountain range in South America, formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate.

Colonial Legacy

The historical effects of European colonization on the economies and societies of Latin American countries, often resulting in resource-dependent economies.

Maquiladoras

Factories in Mexico that produce goods for export, known for cheap labor and often employing women.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy established in 1823 stating that further European colonization in the Americas would be viewed as acts of aggression.

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement, established to increase trade between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Urbanization

The process whereby populations move from rural areas to urban areas, leading to the growth of cities.

Operation Condor

A campaign of political repression and state terrorism implemented in the 1970s and 80s in Southern Cone countries.

Independence Movements

The series of uprisings and revolutions in Latin America from 1804 to 1825 that led to the independence of many countries from colonial powers.

Caribbean Sea

A body of water to the east of Central America and north of South America, bordered by the Caribbean islands.

Rio de la Plata

A river basin in South America formed by the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers.