978-1-4222-3285-9

Series Glossary

Amerindian— a term for the indigenous peoples of North, Central, and South America before the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th century. civil liberty— the right of people to do or say things that are not illegal without being stopped or interrupted by the government. conquistador— any one of the Spanish leaders of the conquest of the Americas in the 1500s. Communism— a political system in which all resources, industries, and property are considered to be held in common by all the people, with government as the cen- tral authority responsible for controlling all economic and social activity. coup d’état— the violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. criollo— a resident of Spain's New World colonies who was born in North America to parents of Spanish ancestry. During the colonial period, criollos ranked above mestizos in the social order. deforestation— the action or process of clearing forests. economic system— the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and ser- vices within a country. ecotourism— a form of tourism in which resorts attempt to minimize the impact of vis- itors on the local environment, contribute to conserving habitats, and employ local people. embargo— a government restriction or restraint on commerce, especially an order that prohibits trade with a particular nation.

exploit— to take advantage of something; to use something unfairly. foreign aid— financial assistance given by one country to another.

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