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 ﻿ Your Passport to the… ** Fun Facts ** · ** Located in Western Africa, in between Ghana and Liberia along the gulf of Guinea. **  · ** The geographic coordinates of Ivory Coast are 8 degrees North and 5 degrees west. **  · ** The Ivory Coast is slightly larger than New Mexico. **  · ** Highest point is Mount Nimba at 1,752 meters ** · ** Kola nuts are exchanged during formal ceremonies in the North as a sign of respect. **  ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦    Flag   Orange - the land and blood of people who fought for emancipation   White - justice and peace Green - hope and the future
 * Ivory **Coast [[image:Coat_of_Arms_Edited_2.jpg width="316" height="277" align="right"]]
 * What is a Kola nut? Click here! (put video link here) **

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦  **  ﻿ A Window into the Past **

Little is known about the early life of Cote d’Ivoire (the Ivory Coast). Historians have often puzzled over the origin, though it is thought to be of some Neolithic prominence. Neolithic means “New Stone Age” and is a major period in the developmental stage of early human technology. However, this must be left up to speculation.

France made its initial contact with Cote d’Ivoire in 1637 when missionaries landed at Assinie near the Gold Coast.

In the 18th century, Cote d’Ivoire was invaded by two related Akan groups – the Agnis [occupying the southeast] and the Baoules [occupying the central section]. Later, Admiral Bouet Williaumez signed treaties with the kings of the Grand Bassam and Assinie regions, granting the territories to French protectorate. This laid the stepping stones for the French Period. In 1893, the Ivory Coast officially became a French colony. Thus, the great French influence on culture there today. Captain Binger, a previous explorer of the Gold Coast, became the first governor. Binger negotiated boundary treaties with Liberia and the United Kingdom, and later in 1892 was attacked by America. During the time ranging from 1904 to 1958, Cote d’Ivoire was a constituent unit of the Federation of French West Africa. It was the property and colony of the Third Republic. Until after World War 2, all the government issues/laws were handled in Paris, not actually at Ivory Coast. France government governed Cote d’Ivoire with the policy of “association”, meaning that all the Africans were “subjects” of France, without the rights to represent Africa or France. While World War 2 raged, the Vichy regime remained in control. Not until 1943 when members of General Charles De Gaulle’s provisional government took control of all French West Africa, did the France government resign control of Cote d’Ivoire. Major government reforms, forged by the Brazzaville conference in 1944, granted French citizenship to all African “subjects”. This meant the right to organize politically was recognized, and various forms of forced labor were abolished. What was seen as a major turning point in relations between French and the Ivory Coast was reached with the 1956 Overseas Reform Act. This transferred a large number of power and rule from Paris to elected territorial governments in French West Africa. This removed the inequalities while voting. December 1958, Cote d’Ivoire became an independent republic within the French community after referendum bringing community status to all members of the old Federation of French West Africa, except Guinea, which was against association. The Ivory Coast was officially independent on August 7 1960, and permitted its community membership to lapse. ** Ivory **** Coast ** ** vs ****. ** ** U **** .S. A  **

Country In Square Miles //Analysis: The Ivory Coast is 28% smaller than the U.S. One reason why the Ivory Coast is the size it is could be because it was a colony. Since it was ruled 3,000 miles away in Paris, France, it would be difficult to govern a large country. Therefore, the French could only colonize a small part of land.//
 * The U.S. is 3,537,424 square miles. It is the 4th largest country in the world.
 * The Ivory Coast is 124,500 square miles. It is the 68th largest country in the world.

Population Density In People Per Square Miles
 * The U.S. has approxomentely 88 people per square mile.
 * The Ivory Coast has about 169 people per square mile.

//Analysis: Even though the Ivory Coast has a smaller population and area in square miles than the U.S, it has almost double (~1.9%) the amount of people per square mile. This means they have to fit more people in a condensed area. In the U.S. we have 28 times more land than Ivory Coast. We also have vast spaces in America such as Alaska, that are uninhibited. In Ivory Coast every area that is inhabitable is used.//

Gross Domestic Product Per Capita (GDP) Note: GDP is used to measure how much each citizen produces and the value of goods and products. It can be thought of as how much a citizen earns per year.

//<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Analysis: American’s earn 26 times more GDP than Ivarians. One reason why thes could be is because products sold in the Ivory Coast tend to coast less than similar products sold in America. Therefore Ivarians would need less money. Ivory Coast’s goverment and economy is also struggling. When more people are jobless the average GDP will go down. //
 * <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font: 14px 'Arial Unicode MS'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The U.S’s Gross Domestic Product Per Capita is $45,592.
 * <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font: 14px 'Arial Unicode MS'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Ivory Coast’s Gross Domestic Product Per Capita is $1,690.

<span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Life Expectancy <span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Male:
 * <span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">In the U.S. men are expected to live up to an average age of 77
 * <span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">In the Ivory Coast, men are expected to live up to an average age of 56

<span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Female:
 * <span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">In the U.S., women are expected to live up to an average age of 81
 * <span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">In the Ivory Coast, women are expected to live up to an average age of 58

//<span style="color: #006600; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Analysis: In the Ivory Coast, men and women alike usually don’t live as long as men and women in the United States. Men in the U.S. live up to 20 plus years longer than men in the Ivory Coast, and women in the U.S. live up to 30 years longer than women in the Ivory Coast, give or take a few. However, people living in the Ivory Coast do not enjoy the same luxuries as those living in the U.S., as shown in the lower income rate. There’s more diseases since not everyone can get fresh water, and some may not even have a meal every night. This takes its toll on the people, and they usually don’t live as long //

Birth Rate:

<span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · In the U.S., the birth rate is 13.83 per thousand <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · In the Ivory Coast, the birth rate is 31.48 per thousand // Analysis: Compared to the United States, the Ivory Coast has a much greater birth rate. However, in the U.S., the infancy mortality rate is much lower (see below). So although Ivory Coast is having more kids per person on average than the U.S., their infants are also dying at a much higher level. If their birth rate was the same as the U.S., their population would be decreasing. In the end, the numbers even out //

Infant Mortality Rate: Note: the Infant Mortality Rate counts the number of deaths occuring during children under one or in their first year of life
 * <span style="color: #6600cc; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">In the U.S., the Infant Mortality Rate is 6 per thousand
 * <span style="color: #6600cc; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">In the Ivory Coast, the Infant Mortality rate is 68 per thousand

//<span style="color: #6600cc; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Analysis: In the Ivory Coast, there is a much higher Infant Mortality Rate than in the U.S. Almost 11 infants die for every kid that dies in the U.S. That is an astonishing rate. This can be blamed on the poorer living conditions. If kids aren’t born in a hospital, there is a major risk for birth complications. Not everyone in the Ivory Coast would be able to afford the price to go to a hospital. They might not even be able to get it to a doctor when it’s sick. //

<span style="color: #0099ff; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The Monetary Unit <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; font-family: sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">
 * <span style="color: #0099ff; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">The Ivory Coast runs off of the monetary unit called the CFA Franc.
 * <span style="color: #0099ff; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">One U.S. Dollar is equal to 517.830 CFA Franc BCEAO.
 * <span style="color: #0099ff; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; tabstops: list .5in;">One CFA Franc is equal to 0.0019131 of a US Dollar.


 * Languages **

<span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Ø Ivory Coast’s official language is French, although 60 other African languages are spoken. Dyula, derived from Arabic, is used throughout Ivory Coast to communicate with non-French speakers. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Ø The U.S’s official language is English though many other languages from around the world are spoken as well.

// Analysis: Each country has an official language although many other languages are spoken. //

<span style="color: #993366; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Religions Practiced

v Islam v Christianity

// Analysis: Islam and Christianity are the major religions in Cote d’Ivoire. Muslims are the majority with 39% of the population being Islam. Christianity is second with 33%. Traditional animist are 12% of the population and the remaining 16% does not claim a religion.Muslims tend to live in the north, and Christians tend to live in the south //

__ Literacy Rate __

o Ivory Coast: 61% (male); 39% (female)

o U.S.: United States: 99% (male); 99% (female )

// __Analysis:__ //// In the U.S., nearly all of the people can read and write, for both male and female. Sadly, in the Ivory Coast, barely over half the population of men can read and write, and less than half the population of women can read or write //


 * || Size (sq. miles) || Population Density (per thousand) || Gross Domestic Product per capita || Life Expectancy

(Male / Female) || Birth Rate (Per thousand) || Infant Mortality (Per thousand) || Literacy Rate ||
 * United States || 3,537,424 || 88 || $45,592 || 77 / 81 || 13.83 || 6 || 61% (male); 39% (female) ||
 * Ivory Coast || 124,000 || 169 || $1,690 || 56 / 58 || 31.48 || 68 || 99% (male); 99% (female) ||

__Political Leader__ Ivory Coast’s political leader is currently Laurent Gbagbo who is president. As president, Laurent is head of state. During the recent 2010 elections, Gbagbo did not win the majority. However he still swore himself in and believes himself rightful president. This will be his 2nd term. An international crisis has now erupted over this issue. The recognized president, Alassane Ouattara, has also been sworn in. Countries world wide have urged Gbagbo to step down. The prime minister is Guillaume Soro who is head of government currently. <span style="background-image: none; backgroundclip: initial; backgroundorigin: initial; color: #0645ad; font-family: sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">

__Current Issues__

A current issue happening in Ivory Coast is the trafficking and exploitation of women and children. Women and girls are being trafficked from norther cities to southern cities for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. Boys are also being trafficked for agricultural labor inside of Ivory Coast. Boys are also being taken from their home in Ivory Coast for forced labor in surrounding countries. This is a major issue because Ivarian law dose not constraint all forms of trafficking. Ivory Coast is also on the Tier 2 Watch list for lack of providing evidence of increasing efforts on extraditing trafficking.

__ Economic Summary __


 * The Ivory Coast depends a great deal on its agriculture and other related activities, consuming about 68% of the population. The Ivory Coast is the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans, but it also exports a variety of goods such as coffee and palm oil. The economy, due to the dependence on their crops, often fluctuates with the climate. Cocoa, oil, and coffee are the top export items since they earn the most income, but they have also started looking into producing gold. Because of the government upturns after the civil war in 2003, the Ivory Coast has lost foreign investment, which, in turn, has resulted in slow economic expansion. The Ivory Coast faces long term challenges, mainly political instability and degrading infrastructure, do to lack of economic growth and debt. **

__Government__ Cote’D Ivorie’s government is a republic. This means that the people only have some control over the government unlike a democracy where the people have all the power. The president is head of state in Cote’D Ivorie. As president his, or her role is to personify the state and its legitimacy while exercising political power. In the US the president is chief of state and head of government. The duties as head of government are chief officer over the executive branch of government which is usually head of a cabinet. In Cote’D Ivorie there is a separate person who is head of government.

In both countries the voting age is 18 although the length of terms is different for Presidency. In the US a term lasts for four years and you can only hold that position for two terms. In Cote’D Ivorie a term lasts for five years and there is no limit to the amount of terms one can have. Cote’D Ivorie’s legislative branch is the Unicameral National Assembly. Unicameral means that there is only on body of legislation unlike the US which has two; the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Unicameral National Assembly has 225 seats. Members are directly elected every five years. The Unicameral National Assembly’s function is to pass legislation originated by the president and to start a legislation.

The House of Representatives has 435 seats that are divided among the 50 states and territories. A term lasts for two years. The House’s purpose is to start laws, particularly on taxes, and decide if a government official should be put on trial before the Senate other wise known as impeachment.

The Senate has 100 members, two from each state. The Senate also has a purpose or “special jobs that only it can preform”: Vote yes or no to any treaties the President makes, Say yes or no any people the president recommends for jobs, (cabinet officers, Supreme Court justices and ambassadors) and can hold trial for government officials who commit a crime against the US.

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