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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.
Carnival—
a popular festival in many South American countries, characterized by
parades, dancing, and ornate costumes. It is celebrated just before the start of
the Roman Catholic season of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter Sunday.
civil liberty—
the right of people to do or say things that are not illegal without being
stopped or interrupted by the government.
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.
embargo—
a government restriction or restraint on commerce, especially an order that
prohibits trade with a particular nation.
foreign aid—
financial assistance given by one country to another.
free trade—
trade based on the unrestricted exchange of goods, with tariffs (taxes) only
used to create revenue, not keep out foreign goods.
indigenous people—
a name for native Amerindian tribes that lived in an area before
Europeans came to settle there.
Series Glossary