The Beautiful Country of

~Mexico~

By: Victoria Rose Torrez

Background and History of the Republic of Mexico

Mexico is a North American country located between the United States and Guatemala. It has had human habitants, researchers and scientists believe, for the past 20,000 years.  Native Mexicans, such as the Aztecs and Mayas, are among the first occupants of this land.  Around the 1500s, The Spanish Conquest took place.  Spanish settlers came onto this land and with time and war, Spain finally established the country we now call Mexico.  Over those couple of hundred years, Spain ruled over Mexico.  But at midnight, on 15th of September, 1810, Mexico finally declared its independence from Spain. May fifth is celebrated because on that day, the year 1862, Mexican soldiers destroyed the French and "traitor Mexican" army. Today Cinco de Mayo is a day of festivities and celebration for their independence.  This holiday is also celebrated by many in the United States, particularly Hispanics of Mexican descent.

The Mexican Revolution was the result of a major disagreement among the people of this country.  During the that time, in the year 1910, President Porfirio Diaz was the dictator over the Mexican people.  Famous heroes of that time such as Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata got Mexican peasants together to fight against Diaz's way of governing their country. President Porfirio's regime finally came to a halt when he resigned and was exiled to France.

The President of Mexico today is Vicente Fox Quesada, who is quite successfully and peacefully  leading that nation today.  He is the first elected president since 1910, when the Mexicans had to vote a man in office after Diaz was exiled.

*A Few Fun Facts*

• Mexico City is the oldest capital city in the Americas

• Dr. Poinsett, a botanist and first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, introduced the poinsettia to this country

• Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world

• Mexico City has the largest population in the world

• Mexico has 31 states

Spatial Tradition

Mexico has thirty native languages spoken throughout the country

Area Studies Tradition

During the early 1900s, Mexicans fought against each other over the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. Some Mexicans were for and some were against his ruling.

Earth Science

1,964,375 km² is the national area of Mexico. There are deserts, beaches, and high mountaintops. It is a very physically diverse country.

Human-Land

Mexico City is the largest city in the world. It is overpopulated and because of that, the pollution in the air is heavy. Many organizations of this country are taking action to improve the quality of the air they are breathing in.

**The Different Languages and Dialects of Mexico**

Mexico is a diverse country with many different languages. Although Spanish is the official spoken language throughout the country, these languages are native to this land.  More than likely, they have been spoken and have been used for the last several thousand years by the native Mexicans who were there before the Spaniards and other European migrants. Researchers have discovered that some of these languages have survived for thousands of years and amazingly enough, have been passed on from generation to generation, and are still used today.

Here is a list and a color-coded map of the different languages, areas, and groups (families or stocks) that each language is spoken by.
 

The table shown below shows the approximate number of speakers of the certain languages in Mexico:

More links to learn more about this wonderful country:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Mexico

http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Mexico

http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico/aztec.html

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/CENSUSSTORY.htm

http://www.caminandosinrumbo.com/mexico/mexico/restaurant/index.htm

For Information of the Black Mexicans:

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/feature/ethnic/bv/vaughnindex.html