Unit 5 Geography Flashcards

UNIT 5 GEOGRAPHY

Quebecois Separatist Movement

• French-Canadian nationalists favored complete independence as a sovereign country due to cultural and linguistic differences.

• Parti Quebecois governments held referendums in 1980 and 1995 on Quebec sovereignty, both of which were lost.

• Support for separatism is declining, with only 19% of those aged 18 to 25 considering themselves separatists.

Pope/Roman Catholic Church

• The College of Cardinals has had the exclusive right to elect popes since 1179.

• A conclave consists of 115 cardinals, who are 80 or younger.

• They meet in the Sistine Chapel and hold two sessions in the morning and two at night, until a pope is elected with a $(\frac{2}{3})$ majority.

• White smoke signals the election of a pope, while black smoke indicates no pope has been chosen yet.

• Three types of Catholic churches: Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox.

• They typically have stained glass windows, a crucifix, and a statue of a saint.

Aztecs and Incas

Aztecs

• Lived in Central Mexico, with Tenochtitlan as their capital in Lake Texcoco.

• Practiced human sacrifice to prevent natural disasters.

• Grew crops like maize and beans and engaged in long-distance trade with luxury items.

• Used chinampas (floating gardens), pyramids, and aqueducts.

• Obsidian knives were used for sacrifices to honor the god of fertility.

• The eagle on a cactus indicated their capital, trying to replicate Teotihuacan.

• Wooden pilings were used for foundations, and animals were used for labor.

• The aqueduct had two channels, one in use and the other being cleaned.

• Their leader was Moctezuma, who was passive, depressive, and paranoid.

• Chinampas produced about 7 crops a year.

• Pyramids symbolized their absolute power.

• They feared the world would end if the gods didn’t receive "precious water;" the population at the time was 25 million.

• Cortes landed in Mexico in 1519.

• La Mallianche became a translator.

• Native warriors accompanied Cortes.

• Moctezuma died from stone arrows.

• The final attack was from land and sea, and 20 million died from disease.

Incas

• Lived in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Argentina, with Cuzco as their capital.

• The common language spoken was Quechua.

• They believed in the sun god and creator god.

• Grew potatoes and quinoa.

• Used terraced farming, math, and astronomy.

Similarities

• Both existed from 1200-1450.

• Had an empire and a central government.

• Lived in a moderate environment without major rivers.

• Participated in sacrifices.

• Were both polytheistic.

• Developed a calendar.

• Built roads and bridges.

Mexico City Water Issues

• Elevation above 2000 meters, a megalopolis.

• Largest city on earth without direct access to water.

• Bringing in and sending out water are major issues.

• Highly congested with air pollution.

• The city is sinking, and pipes are leaky.

• Canal only works at 30% capacity.

• Solutions include rainwater harvesting, fixing leaky pipes, and using water trucks.

Panama Canal

• Cut canal through the Isthmus, a sea-level canal, in 1882.

• The French gave up, and the Americans took over.

• They built a lock-and-lake canal after eradicating mosquitoes carrying yellow fever and malaria.

• Ships pass through the Gatun lock into the Gatun Lake.

• The canal cuts through solid rock and shale of the continental divide.

• Ships enter Pedro Miguel locks, leading to Miraflores Lake and Miraflores locks, then pass under the Bridge of the Americas into the Bay of Panama and the Pacific Ocean.

• The canal runs between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

• A railroad along the canal was used by engineers to haul earth to the causeway and dams.

Northeast Brazil

• Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world and the largest Catholic nation on Earth.

• Diamonds found in Lencois provided Salvador with enormous wealth.

• Raw manioc is poisonous.

• Slaves were forced to convert to Catholicism; 40% of the population were slaves.

• Casts hang from the ceilings of churches.

• The economy is based on cattle ranchers in Satal.

• Recife is the fourth largest city; Futbol brings all walks of life together.

• Lace-making came from Portugal; "you haven’t seen Brazil until you’ve seen a carnival."

• Due to isolation, villagers get much from the sea and don’t rely on freshwater and electricity.

• Water buffalo are used for meat, milk, and labor.

• Indian dishes are made from different forms of manioc.

• No freshwater flows through the Amazon River.

• People in the jungle live off what the river and forest deliver them; that water could support NYC for 60 years.

Chile and Easter Island

• The Andes Mountains separate Chile from the rest of South America.

• Northern Chile is covered by the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world; there are 400 “geoglyphs” covering the hillside.

• A huge can of Coca-Cola is on the side of the road.

• The desert is called the Valley of the Moon.

• San Pedro was once a major stop on cattle drives to the nitrate mines of the desert.

• The museum pit holds mummies, and llamas are prized for their wool.

• Houses the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere.

• When a star explodes, it's called a “supernova.”

• Santiago was founded in 1571.

• Cowboys go to rodeos.

• “Laquacia” is a traditional dance, and Frutllar was settled by German immigrants.

• Dogs outnumber people 2-1 on the island.

• Lobster fishing is the main source of income.

• Most on Easter Island are Polynesian, with 90 moai found on the island, representing ancestors.

• Chile owns the island.

Latin, Central, and Mesoamerica

1. What regions make up Latin America?

   • Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Mexico.

2. What countries make up Central America?

   • Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama.

3. What region and country make up Mesoamerica?

   • Mexico, Central America.

United States

• NYC: Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Richmond. Racial makeup: White, Hispanic, Black.

• Washington D.C. is in between Virginia and Maryland.

• Possessions: Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa.

• Midwestern states: World’s most productive region, producing corn, soybeans, wheat, dairy, cattle, pigs. Germany is the #1 ethnic or ancestry group.

• Gentrification: Pros: creates more development through rapid economic investment. Cons: forced displacement, increase in crime, discriminatory behavior.

• New England: North: little industry, little urbanization, rugged, hilly, heavily forested. South: Industrial, very organized, high population density.

• California: 2nd largest megalopolis. Lowest point in North America: Death Valley; mild climate, Los Angeles, 2nd largest city, population growth.

Mayan Document

• Mayans were one of the first to develop and use the number zero.

• Developed the best modern-day calendar.

• Predicted where the shadow would fall from an equinox.

• Collected information on planets and predicted eclipses.

• The Mayan trade network covered the Yucatan Peninsula and Mexico to modern-day Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, trading by hand or boat.

Canada

• 2nd largest country after Russia.

• 75% live within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

• Population: 35 million.

• Ethnicity: English, French, North American Indian.

• Languages: English and French.

• Religions: Catholic, Protestant.

• Life expectancy: 81 (19th).

• Government: Federal Parliamentary Democracy under a Constitutional Monarchy; commonwealth realm.

• Capital: Ottawa.

• 10 provinces and 3 territories.

• The Head of Secretary is the British Monarch, and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.

• GDP: 32nd; 3rd largest in oil reserves and 5th largest producer of oil.

• Biggest U.S. trading partner.

• Two national sports: Hockey in the winter and Lacrosse in the summer.

Mexico

• $\frac{1}{3}$ of its population lives in and around Mexico City.

• Ethnicity: Mestizo, Amerindian, and European.

• Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, and gold.

• Mexico City is the capital.

• Federal system with 31 states and 1 city.

• National holiday: Independence Day.

• The Chief of State is the President, as well as the Head of Government.

• They have a Bicameral National Congress.

• GDP: 12th. Per capita income: 91st.

• $\frac{1}{3}$ of US agricultural (avocados) come from there.

• The Day of the Dead: Nov. 1 mourns children and infants, and Nov. 2 is for adults.

• Basilica: National Shrine of Mexico, the world’s most visited Catholic pilgrimage site and world’s third most visited sacred site.

• Aztecs were the dominant force in Mexico.

Brazil

• Pedro Alvarez founded Brazil in 1500.

• The colony became an agricultural center and outpost of Portugal.

• 5th largest country in the world in area.

• Natural resources: gold, iron ore, hydropower, timber.

• The Amazon is the 2nd largest river in the world, 4000 miles long, and $\frac{1}{5}$ of Earth's running water is there.

• Capital: Brasilia.

• The federal government gained independence from Portugal in 1822.

• The Chief of State is the President, and the Head of Government is the President. The cabinet is appointed by the president.

• Agriculture: coffee, sugarcane, cocoa, cattle-beef.

• GDP: 8th. Per capita income: 68th.

• São Paulo is the 3rd largest city.

• Religion: Roman Catholicism, Protestant.

• Race: white, mixed, mulatto, mestizo, black, amerindian.

• Language: Portuguese.

• Favelas grew due to migration and have become synonymous with slum life.

• Some favelas are used to boost tourism.

Puerto Rico

• Commonwealth of the U.S. and not a state.

• Granted U.S. citizenship in 1917.

• Can participate in the primary process but not general elections.

• Issues with economic development.

NAFTA

• NAFTA’s primary objective is to eliminate tariffs on goods traded.

• Some tariffs were removed immediately, and others over the span of 15 years.

• Increased cross-border commerce, with trade tripling among the three countries.

• Critics say it caused job losses and wage stagnation.

• Proponents say NAFTA created jobs and lowered prices, fostered competition and efficiency.

• Helped Mexico modernize their economy and attracted foreign investors.

• In Canada and the U.S., it facilitated access to larger markets and supply chains.

• Benefits were not evenly distributed, and some regions and workers experienced negative effects.

• Overall, it had a net positive impact.

• In 2020, USMCA was created.

Latin America

• Major islands of the Caribbean: Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles.

• Islands in the Greater Antilles: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico.

• Islands in the Lesser Antilles: Leeward and Windward Islands.

• Mainly mine iron, copper, gold, and silver. Oil is an important export of Venezuela and Mexico.

• Rainforest is found in Central America, Columbia, Peru, and Southern Brazil.

• Utilizes slash-and-burn technique and terraced farming.

• Tierra Caliente: cacao, bananas, sugarcane.

• Tierra Templada: corn, coffee.

• Tierra Fria: potatoes.

Key Terms/Concepts

• Quebecois Separatist Movement: A political movement advocating for Quebec's independence from Canada, driven by cultural and linguistic differences among French-Canadian nationalists.

• Conclave: The assembly of cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church responsible for electing a new pope, requiring a two-thirds majority for selection.

• Aztecs: An ancient civilization in Central Mexico known for their capital Tenochtitlan, human sacrifices, and agricultural innovations like chinampas.

• Incas: A South American civilization located in Peru and surrounding countries, known for their advanced agricultural techniques and polytheistic beliefs.

• NAFTA: The North American Free Trade Agreement aimed at eliminating tariffs between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, promoting trade and economic integration.

Key Events

• Referendums on Quebec Sovereignty (1980, 1995): Votes held by the Parti Quebecois to determine public support for Quebec's independence, both resulting in losses for the separatist movement.

• Construction of the Panama Canal (1882): A significant engineering project that created a sea-level canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, facilitating maritime trade.

Key People

• Moctezuma: The last Aztec emperor, known for his leadership during the Spanish conquest and his complex relationship with Hernán Cortés.

• Hernán Cortés: Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Key Places

Key Themes

• Cultural Identity: The struggle for Quebec's independence highlights the importance of cultural and linguistic identity in national politics.

• Colonial Impact: The histories of the Aztecs and Incas illustrate the effects of European colonization on indigenous civilizations.

Facts to Memorize

• Quebec sovereignty referendums held in 1980 and 1995.

• The College of Cardinals has elected popes since 1179.

• The Aztecs' capital was Tenochtitlan; the Incas' capital was Cuzco.

• The Panama Canal was completed in 1914.

• Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world.

• Canada is the 2nd largest country after Russia.

• NAFTA was established to eliminate tariffs on goods traded between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Reference Information

• The three types of Catholic churches: Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox.

• The common language of the Incas was Quechua.

• The Amazon River accounts for $\frac{1}{5}$ of the world's freshwater.

• The Day of the Dead in Mexico is celebrated on November 1st for children and November 2nd for adults.

Cause and Effect

Latin America

• Major islands of the Caribbean: Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles. 

• Islands in Greater Antilles: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico

• Islands in Lesser Antilles: Leeward and windward islands.

• Mainly mine iron, copper, gold, and siler. Oil is an important export of Venezuela and Mexico. Rainforest found in Central America, Columbia, Peru, and Southern Brazil.

• Utilizes slash-and-burn technique, and terraced farming. Tierra Caliente; cacao, bananas, sugarcane. Tierra Templada; corn, coffee. Tierra Fria; potatoes.

New England

1. Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.