Latin America consists of twenty different nations, not to mention several territories of still more nations, including Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth that someday may become the fifty-first state.
The English colonies of North America developed into just two countries, the United States and Canada. But Spain’s American colonies never united in the same way.
They developed from colonial times as separate realms in places of great geographic diversity, Mexican deserts, Amazon jungles, Andean mountains. Once independent of Spain, they stayed stubbornly independent of each other. Over hundreds of years of historical ups and downs, they became vastly different from each other.
More than twenty-five nations lie south of the United States. Of these, twenty are generally considered part of Latin America, which includes both Spanish-speaking countries and those where Portuguese and French are spoken.
Throughout U.S. history, thirty-eight Latinos have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the country’s highest military honor.
Related Posts
-
What Is the Celestial Horizon and How Is the Celestial Horizon Different Depending On Your Location?
When you are stargazing, the farthest you can see along the ground in any direction is called your celestial horizon. Just as the Sun rises over the horizon, so do all stars appear…
-
What is a culture and how do people keep their culture alive?
A culture is a collection of customs and beliefs that make up a group's way of life. It includes the language the people speak, the beings they worship, the ways they obtain food,…
-
How did slaves during the American Colonial Period adapt to American culture?
Although white slaveholders tried to suppress African culture (they believed slaves could be controlled more easily if they spoke only English and depended on what the slaveholders taught them), slaves created their own…
-
Where Is the Khyber Pass and Why Is the Link Between Pakistan and Afghanistan an Important Military Location?
The Khyber Pass is a mountain pass that cuts through the mountains on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and links both countries. It's been used for hundreds of years by traders as…
-
Why Was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse In North Carolina Moved From Its Original Location?
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina is one of the tallest in the United States at 210 feet (64 m) above sea level. It had to be moved inland in 1999 to…
-
Who was Arthur Schomburg and How did he help preserve African American culture?
Arthur Schomburg (1874-1938), a journalist, lecturer, and businessman, spent his life collecting books, manuscripts, and artwork by and about black people, a rare passion at a time when few people were interested in…
