WHAT DOES "LATIN AMERICA"MEAN?

he term Latin America was first used in the context of French foreign policy in the 1850s to cover the lands that were former Spanish and Portuguese colonies, as well as the French- and Spanish-speaking populations in the Caribbean. Today,Latin America continues to refer to the vast area that includes Mexico and the countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Within Latin America exist many distinct and diverse peoples, cultures, and languages, many of which are not "Latin,"of course. Indigenous, European, African, and to a smaller extent Asian, heritages are all found in Latin America. The majority of Latin Americans are of mestizo or mixed heritage. Each nation is the product of a unique set of historical and cultural influences.