Lesson 5: Drug Cartels in Mexico

February 1, 2016

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Thu, Feb 4

Review:

• Keystone XL Discussion and Mock Trial
• Comments and ratings
• Exam 1 on Thu, Feb 18

Presentation:

• Geography of Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
  • Study this map of the region. Know all countries, capitals and key cities. 
    

    

  • Sample locations I might ask you to identify
    • Countries: Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic.
    • Capitals: Mexico City, Havana, Port-au-Prince, Managua, San Jose, San Salvador, Panama City, Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa
    • Key Cities: Guadalajara, Juarez, Tijuana, Monterrey
    • Landmarks: Yucatan Peninsula, Baja Peninsula, Panama Canal, Gulf of Mexico
• Mexico’s Drug War
  • Who is in control?
  • Map of Cartel territories

  • 

  • BBC Documentary
    • Tijuana, Juarez
    • Sinaloa Cartel – El Chapo (Rolling Stone article by Sean Penn)
    • People of Mexico (including politicians, police, journalists, etc) – “Plata o plomo“
    • Corridos – glorification of gang leaders & lifestyles, financial contributions to communities
  • Drug Distribution
    • HQ move from Columbia to Mexico – why?
  • Central America
    • Guerrillas from wars in the 1970-80s, now operating as death squads for drug runners
    • Migrants fleeing poverty, violence, instability

Assignment:

• Watch Harvest of Empire
• Prepare to discuss Immigration