republic of guatemala 20/4/05 angela caracciolo megan mihal sarah kleinhenz kevin lewis gina...
TRANSCRIPT
Republic of Guatemala20/4/05
Angela Caracciolo
Megan Mihal
Sarah Kleinhenz
Kevin Lewis
Gina Fabbroni
• Guatemala is the same size as Tennessee
•Tennessee population (2003) 5,841,748
•http://quickfacts.census.gov
•Guatemala population 14,280,596
•http://www.countryreports.org/
What you really need to know..
• Mayans, 2000 B.C
• Spain, 1524
• Dictators/ Military Presidents
1800’s-1900’s
• Exploitation
• 21st century, new government, human rights issues surface
Brief History
• 2000 BC Mayan civilization develops agriculture, corn is the staple crop
• 1524 Arrival of Pedro de Alvarado, conqueror of Guatemala– Becomes Spanish colony– 2/3 Indian population dies– Attempts to convert to Christianity
• Seeks gold, Raise indigo and cocoa with forced labor • September 15, 1821 Gain independence from Spain
– becomes member of the United Provinces of Central America– Serviles (conservatives) desire a strong government, close ties with
church– Radicales, desire a federal republic and restrictions on the privileges of
landowners and clergy– Constitution based on the United States, liberal president is installed
• 1838 Confederation collapsed
• Mid 1800’s- Mid 1900’s– Governed by harsh dictators and business controlled
leaders
• Ruled by dictators– Rafael Carrera- conservative (1838-1865)– Justo Rufino Barrios- first liberal dictator (1871-1885)
• Limited power of Roman Catholic church• Settled boundary disputes with Mexico
– Manuel Estrada Cabrera (1897-1920)• Bananas become important export crop
– Jorge Ubico (1931-1944)• Improves infrastructure• Imposes repressive military rule• Admired rise of Hitler
• 1944 “October Revolutionaries” overthrew right-wing dictator, Jorge Ubico
• 1945 Juan José Arévalo elected president – At this time 2.2 percent of the population owned over 70 percent of the
country's land– Only 10 percent of the land was available for 90 percent of the
population • 1951 Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán elected president
– 63% of vote, continues Arévalo’s work
• 1944-1954 Ten Years of Spring– Land reform effort, unused land was purchased by the government and
resold at lower prices, started with his own land– This affected the United Fruit Company, one of the larges landowners in
the country, accused on communism– The U.S. replaced the freely elected government of Guatemala with
another right-wing dictatorship • 1954 Col. Carlos Castillo Armas overthrows Guzmán in a coup
promoted by the U.S. CIA• 1966 Julio César Mendéz Montenegro, liberal elected
– Beginning of 20 year so military-dominated governments– Effort to return to constitutional government
• Civil War• 1978-1985 Political violence• Rios Montt
– "If you are with us, we'll feed you; if not, we'll kill you." – Most violent period with 200,000 deaths
• 1983 I, Rigoberta Menchu, An Indian Woman in Guatemala published
• 1985 Guatemalan government drafted more democratic Constitution– Civilian president Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo– Pleadged to end political violence
• 1993 Ramiro De Leon Carpio elected• 1996 Alvaro Arzu elected and signs Peace Accord with
leftist guerillas– Provides translation of some official documents and voting
materials into several Mayan languages– Army agreed to reduce policing
• 2000 new government under President Alfonso Portillo
• July 2002 – The Pope visited Guatemala.
John Paul II canonized the
country’s first saint,
the 17th-century missionary
Pedro de San Jose de Betancur.
• December 2003 Óscar Berger Perdomo won presidency
• 2004 – The government paid compensation to victims of
human-rights violations that occurred during the civil war
Population
Guatemala• 14,280,596• 15-64: 54%• Median Age: 18.4• Population Growth:
2.61%• Birth Rate: 35.58• Death Rate: 6.79
United States• 293,027,571• 15-64: 66.9%• Median Age: 36• Population
Growth: .92%• Birth Rate: 14.13• Death Rate: 8.34
Ethnicity
• Ethnically Diverse– 55% Mestizo– 43% Amerindian– 2% White/Other
• Importance of Mayan Indians
• Has largest proportion of Indians in population, more than any other Central American country
Language / Literacy
• Multiple Languages– 60% Spanish– 40% Amerindian Languages
• 23 officially recognized
Amerindian languages
• Low literacy rate– 70.6% of those 15 and older can read and
write.
Where are all these people?• Most Guatemalans live
in the Southern portion of the country.
• Most densely populated areas include Guatemala City, surrounding areas in the highland plain, Western part of Southern coast.
• 2/3 Population found in rural areas.
Language
• Spanish is spoken by 60% of the population– Brought by conquering Spanish Conquistadores– Influenced all aspects of their culture
• Other 40% is broken into 23 Native languages– Some of these would include: Quiche, Cakchiquel,
Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca. – So many native languages still exist today because
the natives fled to the mountainous regions of the country for protection
Language
• 70% of Guatemalans are literate by the age of 15
• Spanish is used to discriminate against poor– People speaking native languages are taken
advantage of in contracts for housing and many aspects of life
– Spanish is seen as the “upper class” language
Religion in Guatemala
-Catholicism( claimed by the majority)
-Protestantism( growing to a large percentage)
-small populations of Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, and Muslims
Religion in Guatemala
• Mayan beliefs still exist
• Mixture of Catholicism and indigenous beliefs
Religion in Guatemala
• Celebrations of the patron saint
• Ragacion or prayer of rain
• Holy Week
Corrupt past
• Long series of Military Dictatorships and coups– Played a huge rule in development of
government in early years– Led to military being most powerful branch of
government
• May 30 1963– First drafting of a constitution
Currently
• Very similar to US system in structure
• Universal suffrage 18 and older
• 3 branches of Government– Executive Legislative and Judicial
• Judicial system still backward– Allows lots of corruption– Very slow and easily influenced
Currently
• Government type:– constitutional democratic republic
• Administrative divisions:– 22 departments
• President– President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER
Perdomo
Divisions of Economy
• Agriculture– ¼ of GDP– ½ labor force– Coffee, sugar, bananas
• Industry– Textiles, rubber, building materials, shoes, petroleum– Cottage Industries
• Services– 57% GDP
Exports and Imports
• Exports– Importance of US– Main exports: coffee, sugar, bananas, fruit, clothing.
• Imports– Receive $250 million from United States– Main imports: fuels, machinery, fertilizers
Economic Problems
• Guatemala’s economy has faced many problems over the years and include:– Money laundering– Corruption– Drugs– poverty
Improvements in Economy
• Guatemala’s actions towards a better economy:
– 1996 Peace Accords– USAID– CFATA– President Portillo
National and Popular Culture
Sarah Kleinhenz
National and Popular Culture
• Blend of native Mayan and Spanish history
• Reflects the wide cultural gap between the Indian culture and the Ladino culture
National and Popular Culture
• Education System– Primary education is
free, but difficult to receive in all parts of the country.
• Schools in rural areas are virtually nonexistent
• Lack of teachers and supplies are two main problems
– Education required for urban children from ages seven to fourteen
National and Popular Culture
• University of San Carlos– Founded 1676, it was the first established
university in Central America– The largest public university in Guatemala
• Education still faces many problems– 50% of children receive no schooling, 10%
complete high school, and only 3% complete college
National and Popular Culture• Dance
– Folkloric Dance popular among Indian culture– In Guatemala City, ballet and professional dance companies exist
• Music– National Symphony Orchestra and National Chorus– National instrument is the marimba
• Percussion instrument that is played by beating mallets on metal rods
– Popular styles are tropical rhythm, chicano, classical guitar, and mariachi
National and Popular Culture
• Art and Literature– Pottery, indigenous
paintings, and textiles– Nobel winners –
Rigoberta Menchú and Miguel Angel Asturias
• Sports– Soccer most popular,
followed by basketball and volleyball
National and Popular Culture
• Festivals and Celebrations– Religious festivals famous
• Feria – festival for local patron saint• Nocho Buena (Christmas), Semana
Santa (Easter), and Dia de los Santos (Day of the Dead)
• Asuncion (Assumption) – celebrates the day of the national patron saint Maria on August 15th
– Festivities• Fireworks, processions, special
foods
Customs in Guatemala
• Mannerisms– Always shake hands
• Females• Males
– Don’t use the “thumbs up” or beckon people with your forefinger
– Introductions
Customs in Guatemala
• Births– The Nahual
• Birthdays
• Weddings
Food and Material Life
Sarah Kleinhenz
Food and Material Life
• Once again, the Indian culture and the Ladino culture form two distinct ways of life.– Traditional versus European
Food and Material Life• Mayan Tastes
– Three staple items: tortillas, beans, and rice– Specialty items: tamalitos and chili
• Mayan meals– Sometimes 3 meals, but generally 2
• Breakfast – atol or tortillas
• Lunch (main meal) – tortillas with rice
• Dinner – generally late in day after work in fields is done, tortillas again
Food and Material Life
• Ladino Tastes– More affluent items: meat (chicken, pork and beef),
vegetables (avocado and potatoes), and fruit (plantains and pineapple)
• Ladino Meals– 3 meals a day
• Breakfast – rolls, fruit, and coffee• Lunch (main meal) – soup, meat, vegetable, and dessert• Dinner – meat, rice, beans
• Globalization has brought American fast food and other restaurants to Guatemala
Food and Material Life
• Specialty dishes– Fiambre – vegetable and meat salad for Day of the Dead
celebration
– Regional Sauces• Chirmol – sauce made with onions and tomatoes• Pepian – sauce made with meat, sesame, pumpkin, and raisins
• Drinks– Coffee, beer, rum, aguardiente, atole de maiz, and ponche
Food and Material Life
• Clothing– Mayan
• Women – Corte and Huipil are elements of tradition
• Men– Some dress in European fashion, while others retain
traditional dress
– Ladino• Women
– European fashion of dresses, accessories, and heels
• Men– Business suits in work and casual European attire
outside the office
Food and Material Life
• Clothing– World renowned traditional textiles– Bright colors
• Markets– Located in almost all cities and villages
• Transportation– Less than 3% of Guatemalans own a car
Welcome to Republic of GuatemalaHome to………
• Largest population of any Central American nation Population, with more than half being indigenous Mayan peoples
• 23 Mayan Languages spoken by 40 % of the population
• A constitutional democratic republic• Women who work an average of 11.5 hours per day,
more than any other women in the world• Where less than 3% of the population own a car • Drug trafficking, corruption, money laundering • Low literacy rate of 55.6%