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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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Series Glossary