Industrial Development: Latin America & North American Evolution

Latin American Industrial Hubs

Mexico: Concentrates light industry in its industrial axes, including Puebla, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Heavy industry is primarily located in the north of the country.

Brazil: Its industries are concentrated in the triangle formed by São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina: Industries are established along the Paraná-Río de la Plata front, stretching from the city of Rosario to La Plata. Another significant industrial center is found in Córdoba.

The remaining Latin American countries typically have their industries located in their capital cities.

Notably, Venezuela's oil industry is predominantly situated around Lake Maracaibo.

North American Industrial Powers: The United States

Early Industrialization and Regional Growth

The process of industrialization in the USA began simultaneously with Europe during the First Industrial Revolution in the late eighteenth century. Initially, industrial areas were established in the vicinity of the Great Lakes and on the Atlantic Coast for several key reasons:

• Proximity to Raw Materials: Access to iron from the Canadian Shield and coal from the Appalachians.
• Proximity to Natural Water Resources: Essential for power and transport.
• Proximity to Cities: Providing both labor and markets for sales.
• Proximity to Ports: Facilitating exports.

Until the 1970s, this sector accounted for 80% of the industrial workforce, encompassing two major megalopolises: Chipitts (Chicago-Pittsburgh) and BosWash (Boston-Washington). This industrial region concentrated all types of industries, including both heavy and light manufacturing.

Wartime Shifts and Post-War Development

In 1941, the U.S. rapidly shifted many of its industries to the West Coast after Japan declared war with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Initially, food and textile industries were established to supply soldiers with provisions and clothing. Subsequently, war industries emerged to produce airplanes, ships, tanks, and ammunition.

At the end of World War II, the Cold War began, dividing the world into two blocs: the capitalists led by the U.S. and the communists led by the USSR.

Florida's Transformation and Aerospace Industry

By the 1960s, the U.S. perceived threats from two fronts: the Soviet Union (via its proximity to Alaska) and Cuba (south of Florida). At this time, the Florida peninsula was largely a marshy, uninhabited area. Due to the perceived threat of communism, it began to be populated and developed.

Development began with benefits for retirees, including housing and services. A resort industry subsequently flourished on Miami's beaches, and Disney World, a major amusement park, was established in Orlando. Since the 1980s, Florida has become a premier tourist destination. Finally, aerospace industries also settled in this area.

The Rise of Silicon Hubs

From the 1990s, Silicon Valley emerged in San Jose, California. This region became the epicenter for the silicon industry, developing micro-components for computers. Silicon, an abundant mineral, is found in vast quantities worldwide, including on many beaches.

Prominent Silicon Valley companies included Microsoft, Linux, Apple, and others. By the late 1990s, Route 128 in Boston also dedicated itself to the silicon industry. From the twenty-first century, the Silicon District appeared in Miami, focusing on concentrating all Internet services in Spanish.