Latin American Vocabulary Review
Andean geographic term for countries located along the Andes mountain range of South America
Arable suitable for farming
BRICS Political science term used for the world s five fastestgrowing economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Columbian Exchange The movement of peoples, agricultural commodities, diseases, and cultures between the Old World and New World during the European Age of Exploration.
Commodities Any raw material or agricultural product that is bought and sold
Corruption Dishonest conduct by those in power; typically involving bribery.
Coup The act of overthrowing an existing governing authority.
Hacienda Spanish agricultural plantations throughout Latin America during the colonial period.
Deforestation The destruction of a forested area, typically as a result of human activities.
mestizos People of mixed European and American Indian ancestry
mulattoes People of mixed European and African ancestry. In Latin America, mulattos make up a significant percentage of the population
Indigenous Term referring to the native peoples or species of a given place; synonymous with aboriginal.
Cuban Revolution The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's guerilla fighters against the rule of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959.
Batista Former president and later dictator of Cuba prior to the 1959 Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro Castro, Fidel: former communist dictator of Cuba who he over threw Batista in the 1959 Cuban Revolution. He established the 1 st communist government in the Western Hemisphere.
Guerrilla Warfare A type of fighting that is usually used by indigenous military or rebel unit, operating in small groups of combatants. They use military tactics like ambushes, sabotage, raids, and the element of surprise. http://ciponline.org/colombia/infocombat.htm
Communism An economic and political system wherein private ownership is largely forbidden and all industries and resources are under the control of the state.
nationalize To convert from private to governmental ownership and control.
Bay of Pigs Invasion A secret operation to overthrow Fidel Castro through a combination of political, psychological, and guerrilla warfare.
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 Cold War event wherein the Soviet Union, with the agreement of the Castro regime, placed intermediate & medium-range ballistic missiles on the island of Cuba which were capable of striking the United States The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. A confrontation between the United States on one side, and the Soviet Union and Cuba on the other.
Zapatistas An armed revolutionary group that has declared war against Mexico. A group of Mexicans whose goal is to improve the rights & living conditions for Mexico s indigenous people.
NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) began on January 1, 1994. It is an agreement among the United States, Canada and Mexico designed to remove tariff barriers between the three countries.
Revolution An overthrow of an established government by the people being governed.
Corruption Dishonest conduct by those in power; typically involving bribery.
Narcotics Any controlled, nonmedicinal substance (especially drugs)
Naturalization The process by which a citizen of one country may become a legal citizen of another country
Rural An area that is largely countryside; this is in contrast to an urban (i.e., city) area.
Trafficking The illegal smuggling of people or products (especially drugs or weapons).
Urban "related to cities." It may refer to: Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities