Belize the country - BACKGROUND

Belize is a country in Central America. It borders w/ Mexico on the North (state of Quintana Roo,) Guatemala on the west with (department of Petén,) and Guatemala again on the south (department of Izabal.) The Caribbean Sea is on the East of the country.

The country occupies 8,867 square miles (22,960 km²) of land and has a population of 333,200 people (2010 est.) It is the only nation in Central America with a British colonial heritage, although as a part of the Western Caribbean Zone, it shares this heritage with the Caribbean portions of other Central American countries.

The Maya civilization flourished in Belize from 1500 BC until about A.D. 800. By the time the Europeans arrived in Belize, the primary inhabitants were the Mopan branch of the Yucatec Maya.

Spanish colonists tried to settle the inland areas of Belize, but Maya rebellions and attacks forced them to abandon these efforts.

English and Scottish buccaneers known as the Baymen first settled on the coast of Belize in 1638, seeking a sheltered region from which they could attack Spanish ships. The settlers turned to cutting logwood during the 18th century. The wood yielded a fixing agent for clothing dyes that was vital to the European woollen industry. The Spanish granted the British settlers the right to occupy the area and cut logwood in exchange for an end to piracy.

Battle of St. George's Caye
The Battle of St. George's Caye is the best known military engagement in Belize. It lasted from September 3–10, 1798, and was fought off the coast of Belize. However, the name is typically reserved for the final battle that occurred on September 10. The battle took place between an invading force from what would become Mexico, attempting to claim Belize for Spain, and a small force of resident woodcutters called Baymen, who fought for their livelihood assisted by black slaves. The people of Belize decisively defeated a Spanish fleet on that day. The anniversary of the battle is now a national holiday in Belize.

In 1836, after the emancipation of Central America from Spanish rule, the British claimed the right to administer the region. In 1862, Great Britain formally declared it a British Crown Colony, subordinate to Jamaica, and named it British Honduras.

Constitutional reforms were initiated in 1954 and resulted in a new constitution ten years later. Britain granted British Honduras self-government in 1964, and the head of the PUP—independence leader George Price—became the colony's prime minister. British Honduras was officially renamed Belize in 1973. Progress toward independence, however, was hampered by a Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over the territory of Belize. When Belize finally attained full independence on 21 September 1981, Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation. About 1,500 British troops remained to protect Belize from the Guatemalan threat. All British soldiers were withdrawn in 1994.

The country's population is currently estimated to be a little over 320,000. Mestizos comprise about 34% of the population, Kriols 25%, Spanish 15%, Maya 11%, and Garifuna 6%.