COSTA RICAHistory and Government

By

Angela Carrington

Republic of Costa Rica

• This Central American country lies between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south.

• Capital: San Jose • Population (2012 est.): 4,636,348 • Nationality: Costa Rican(s)• Ethnic groups: Europeans 94%,

African origin 3%, Chinese 1%, Amerindians 1%, other 1%

• Religion: Roman Catholic 70%

Costa Ricans

History Timeline 1502, Sep 18 Christopher

Columbus. 1506, King Ferdinand sends a

Diego de Nicuesa. 1540, Costa Rica becomes part of

the vice-royalty of New Spain. 1723, Irazú erupts and buries

Cartago. 1737, Villa Nueva de la Boca del

Monte is established. This will eventually turn into San José.

1808, Coffee is introduced into Costa Rica from Cuba and becomes the principal crop.

1821, Central America gains independence from Spain on Sep 15.

1824, Juan Mora Fernandez is elected first head of state.

1850's, Coffee makes up 90% of the nation's exports.

1870, General Tom s Guardia seized power. Policies like free and compulsory primary education

1910, Illiteracy is 55%. 1930, Illiteracy is 33%. 1950, Life expectancy is 56 years.

Illiteracy is 21%.

How History Relates to culture Costa Ricans pride themselves on having a society "different" from the

rest of Central America.

As much as 95 percent of Costa Ricans consider themselves "white.“

Successful males of African, Indian, or mixed ancestry married poorer "Spanish" women, using "whitening" to assure their children's upward mobility.

Many upper-class families are descended from a few Spanish conquistadores.

Government

• Laura Chinchilla, the country's first woman to be elected president, taking 47% of the vote.

• Elected May 8, 2010.• Has pushed for fiscal reform to

support revenue increase for education.

• Education is compulsory for 9 years.

• Literacy rate is 96%.

Costa Rica verses USA Gov.

COSTA RICA• A Democratic republic.• Independent executive, legislative

and judicial branches.• One President.• Two Vice President.• Elections are held every four

years.• A president may serve only one

four-year term in his lifetime.

UNITED STATES• A Federal republic.• Legislative, executive and judicial

branches.• One president.• One Vice President.• Elections are held every four

years.• A president may serve up to two

four-year term in his lifetime.

Government on Education• American public education is operated by state and local governments.• In most states, children are required to attend school from the age of six or

seven, until they turn eighteen.• Of Americans twenty-five and older, 84.6% graduated from high school,

52.6% attended some college, 27.2% earned a bachelor's degree and 9.6% earned graduate degrees.

• The basic literacy rate is approximately 99%.• Costa Rican elementary and high schools are found throughout the country in

practically every community. • Primary education is obligatory, and both preschool and high school are free.• The literacy rate in Costa Rica is 96%, one of the highest in Latin

America.

Niñosy Niñas

References

• http://www.centralamerica.com/cr/info/index.htm • http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Costa-Rica.html• http://www.geographia.com/costa-rica/history.htm• http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107430.html• http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/camerica/cr.htm• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States