The History of Central America

Objective:We will learn the history of Central America including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El

Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

Lesson #42

Ustaadhah Mariam Annor

Key Vocabulary

Dependency – a country that is governed by another country.

Let’s brainstorm…dWhat

countries arepart of Central

America?

Belize Guatemala Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama

• We will read from our digital text.

• In the 1500s to the 1800s, the Europeans were in control of Central America.

• The first country to develop a colony in Central America was the Spanish, because of the gold that was to be found there.

• Soon after, the French, Dutch and English developed colonies also.

• Sugar was found too. Sugar plantations were developed and they brought in enslaved people to work in the fields.

• Around the 1800s, the people of Central America desired independence.

• Saint-Domingue became the first region to win their independence.

• In 1821, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua followed Saint-Dominque in becoming independent.

• At first, all of these regions united as one, but since 1839, they have become separate countries.

• Panama had a very precious piece of land that connects North and South America. Because of this connection, everyone wanted to own it.

• The French and the United States both wanted to conquer this land in the early 1900s but Panama was part of Colombia. The United States tried to purchase this piece of land from Colombia but they refused.

• Soon after, Panama rebelled for independence and in 1903, Panama agreed to let the United States “borrow” the land.

• This is when The Panama Canal was built. The Panama Canal opened in 1914 and became one of the most important ways to travel around the world.

• In 1898 the United States declared war with Spain to help the people of Cuba and Puerto Rico gain their independence from the Spanish.

• At the end of the war, the Spanish lost their hold on the two countries and Puerto Rico became a “dependency” of the United States.

• Cuba gained their independence in the Spanish-American War, but the United States still has military bases located in Cuba.

Independent Work• Complete The History of Central

America worksheet.