History of Latin America

Page published by Marc Becker on Sunday, November 5, 2017

AQUINAS COLLEGE

Department of History

History is the foundation of a liberal arts education. The study of the past fosters knowledge of those virtues most necessary to the maintenance of democratic society. History provides an appreciation of the long struggle to achieve a social order and the need for vigilance to preserve it. By studying history we deepen our understanding of the human person and our world's cultural variety, thus illuminating the relationship between individual and community.

“Aquinas College is rooted in the Dominican traditions of prayer, study, community and service, combined with a deep respect for truth, honesty and integrity. In this spirit, we strive to create an environment in which integrity is prized and practiced. We expect all community members to uphold these values through honesty, fairness, and respect for others.”

(Aquinas College Integrity Statement)

HY 230: HISTORY of LATIN AMERICA

Spring 2017

Detail of the mural “History of Mexico” by Diego Rivera (Mexico City – Presidential Palace) http://joseantoniobru.blogspot.com/2012/08/enlace-con-islas-chincha-valparaiso.html

Times and Location: T-F 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM / Academic Building room 102

Instructor: Stéphane Bédère

Citation: Marc Becker. History of Latin America. H-LatAm. 11-05-2017. https://networks.h-net.org/node/23910/pages/798308/history-latin-america Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 1 H-LatAm

Office: AB 005

Phone: (616) 632-2118

E-mail: [email protected]

Office Hours: M-TH 2:30-4:30 and M 12:30-1:30 or by appointment

Textbook and Instructional Materials:

Martin, Cheryl E., and Wasserman, Mark. Latin America and Its People (Combined Volume). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2012, 3rd edition. Buffington, Robert, and Caimari Lila. Keen’s Latin American Civilization. History and Society, 1492 to the Present. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2009, 9th edition. Handouts given by the professor. Films: The Mission, Roland Joffé (U.K., 1986), and Granito: How to Nail a Dictator, Pamela Yates (USA, 2011)

Course Description

This survey course will acquaint students with the major historical, socio-political, economic and cultural processes that shaped the lives of Latin Americans from pre-Hispanic times to present. The discussion will be based on a selection of texts and films that illustrate the topics addressed in the class.

Learning Goals

At the end of the course students will demonstrate increased knowledge and understanding of:

Historical events and processes that contributed to the formation of Latin American civilizations and identities. The impact of European expansion, particularly in areas of religion and politics, and the contributions of the indigenous and African populations to particular areas of Latin America.

The main Latin American political, historical, and cultural processes since its Independence. The historical, political and economic relationship between Latin America countries and the United States.

Methodology and Course Requirements

Assignments

Come to class fully prepared, having completed your assignments. Questionnaires, about documents to study or watch, are exercises destined to help you prepare for class discussions. Done conscientiously, they will increase your chances of success. Throughout the semester, you will study a series of primary sources (original texts). For some of them, you will be asked to fill out a form (Primary Source Form) answering the same basic questions that historians ask themselves when dealing with a primary source. The purpose of this activity is to develop your skills as a critical thinker. You will realize that historical accounts are shaped by the point of view of the individuals and by the values of the culture that produce them. You will be required to turn in type-written answers to these questions at the end of class. You will earn a daily class preparation grade (homework). Homework assignments and their due dates will be announced in class and/or posted on Course Connect.

No late assignments will be accepted.

By preparing carefully outside of class, individual students ensure that they are confident and ready to take part in classroom communicative activities. In addition, students often find that daily class preparation leads to higher levels of performance on course tests and exams because, as they prepare for class on a daily basis, students also in effect prepare for exams.

Attendance and participation

It is essential that students be in class daily and be prepared so they can participate in communicative activities of all types. I realize that speaking in front of people can sometimes be intimidating. I also realize that some students are just shy and do not participate much in class even though they are prepared. But the fact is that class participation will be an essential part of the learning process in this course. Participating in discussions can only help students become more proficient and gain a better understanding of the material we will be covering in class. Consequently, I wish to emphasize that you should feel free to express your views in class, that your ideas will always be treated with respect, and that I will do everything I possibly can to create an environment in which you will be comfortable speaking in front of the class.

For these reasons, daily class participation is required and students earn a daily class participation grade. Tardiness, lack of participation and text messaging will lower your grade.

Students are allowed to miss 2 classes. After the 2nd unexcused absence, 1% will be deducted from the final grade for each absence. Excused absences include: a death in the family, a medical emergency, a university sponsored event, observance of a religious holiday, etc.

For an absence to be excused, students need to provide verifiable proof before the absence (university sponsored event, observance of a religious holiday), or upon their return to class.

Small Group Presentations (Reading Communities)

The Reading Communities are learning communities of three to four members in which each student plays an important role in the reading process (e.g., investigators of background information, interpreters, summary writers, language experts).

The day of the discussion, each student must bring anoutline (not a narrative) of his/her presentation and give copies to both all the other members of their community as well as the professor (4 or 5 copies of the work per student, including the one for you).

Students will be the key facilitators of the discussion.

The professor will serve as a guide, participant, and mentor.

Each community member will be required to take a turn fulfilling this task.

Latin American Movie Review

You will write a film review of at least 800 words about one of the films presented in this year’s Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival. More details will be given later on in class.

Essay

You will write one essay of at least 1600 words on a topic to be announced. In addition to the paper copy, you will also send an electronic copy to the professor.

Exams

There will be one midterm and one final exam during the semester. The exams will include multiple-choice, fill-in the blanks and short-answer questions. More details and specific instructions will be given later and during class time.

Classroom Policy

Before entering the classroom, because they are disruptive and counterproductive to class and group activities, please turn off cell phones and other electronics devices. Cell phones, tablets and/or computers are not allowed in the classroom. If you have an emergency and must use your cell phone during class, please leave the room to send a text message or call.

E-mail Policy

Whenever you write me an e-mail, I expect you to use both a salutation (greeting) and a closing. If you omit these, I will not answer your e-mail.

Make-up Policy

There will be no extensions given for the essay, presentations or other assignments for unexcused absences Students who are absent will receive an F (0 pt.) as a grade for the activity. If you must miss class for an excused absence, it is your responsibility to keep up with assignments.

Missed work will be due when you return to class.

Grade Breakdown

Participation 2 x 10 % = 20 % Preparation 2 x 10 % = 20 % Small Groups Presentations 5 x 3 % = 15 % Latin American Movie Review = 5 % Essay = 10 % Midterm Exam = 15 % Final Exam = 15 %

TOTAL = 100 %

Extra Credit (Cultural Event Report) = 2 %

Mayan jade sculpture (Copán, Honduras)

If you are interested in getting extra credit, you can attend a second movie of the Latin American Film Festival and write a review on the same terms as for the first one, or you can attend a cultural event related to Latin America either on or off campus.

Examples of cultural events, art exhibits, concerts, lectures, and movies presented on campus or in the West Michigan community. If you have any other ideas for this activity, please check with me beforehand.

You will prepare a written report (Informe) on this event of at least 800 words:

Include a summary of the event and your commentary of it (what you liked, didn’t like, found interesting, learned, found similar or different from American culture, etc.). No report will be accepted more than 2 weeks after the event. Please provide a brochure (or a ticket) of the event with your report.

Grading scale

A = 94-100 A- = 90-93 B+ = 87-89 B = 84-86 B- = 80-83 C+ = 77-79 C = 74-76 C- = 70-73 D+ = 67-69 D = 64-66 D- = 60-63 F = 0-59

Support Services and Other Requirements

Accommodations Statement

Aquinas College is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Disability Services Office (616)-632-2177at , or email [email protected]. The office is located in the Wege Center, room 103C. Once

your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a verified letter/form from the disability services office.

Academic Assistance

Academic Learning Services (616) 632-2166 offers free tutoring to all students. All students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center. For further questions contact Julie Bevins, Writing Center Coordinator, [email protected] or (616) 632-2168

Academic Integrity

Written or other work that a student submits must be the product of her/his own efforts. Plagiarism of somebody else’s work (classmate or others), cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty, including dishonesty involving computer technology, are prohibited. Further information on Academic Dishonesty can be found in the current Academic Catalog and in the Student Conduct Code. You must properly cite any outside sources used for your work (including homework). This also means that you have the obligation to use quotation marks whenever citing outside sources. Any student caught cheating, aiding in cheating, or plagiarizing will automatically receive a failing grade (F) for the assignment and/or for the class according to the gravity of the infraction (more precisions will be given to students in class), and may be subject to further disciplinary action. A repeated offense will automatically lead to a failing grade (F) for the course.

My goal is to provide the atmosphere and opportunities necessary to successful learning for all students in the course. If you have comments, concerns, or problems, please let me know as promptly as you can.

Poster celebrating the Cuban Revolution http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=ref&q=http://www.uoregon.edu/~caguirre/revol.ht ml&usg=AFQjCNFHK3983srwPdweF8oLX0fN1oeLkA

History 230 Calendar * Spring 2017

* Your learning is my principal concern, so I may modify the schedule if it will facilitate your learning.

DATE TOPIC READINGS Tuesday 01/10 Introduction to class (1) Friday 01/13 Latin America: Names, Geography, Preface (xxvii-xxxii) + map (xxv) (2) Image

and Representation The First Peoples of the Americas The First Peoples of the Americas (1-29) Tuesday 01/17 Mayan Religious Life (Keen’s… 18-20) (3)

Americans and Iberians on the Eve of Contact (31-63) Friday 01/20 Americans and Iberians on the Eve of Aztec Industry and Commerce (K. 8-10) (4) Contact The Spanish Character (K. 41-43)

The European Conquest of America (65-77) Tuesday 01/24 The European Conquest of America Columbus, Letter to Santangel (handout) (5)

The European Conquest of America (77-94) Lope de Aguirre: Disillusioned Warrior (K. 69-72) Friday 01/27 The European Conquest of America The Strange Sermon of Fr. Montesinos (K. (6) 76-78)

The Laughter of Dr. Palacios Rubios (K. 78-79)

The Amerindians’ Changing World The Amerindians’ Changing World Tuesday 01/31 The Mission (film) (126-141) (7)

The Amerindians’ Changing World The Amerindians’ Changing World Friday 02/03 (142-154) The Mission (film) (8)

The Amerindians’ Changing World Tuesday 02/07 The Amerindians’ Changing World (126-154) (9) The Jesuit Indian Policy (K. 145-146)

The Iberian’s New World (97-124) The Iberian’s New World The World of the Sugar Plantation (K. Friday 02/10 165-171) – Reading (10) Community

A New People and Their World (155-168) The Structure of Class and Cast (K. Tuesday 02/14 151-153) A New People and Their World (11) The Mestizo: Seed of Tomorrow (K. 158-160)

A New People and Their World (168-185) Friday 02/17 The Tenth Muse (K. 183-188) A New People and Their World (12) On the Foolishness of Men (K. 188-190)

The Shifting Fortunes of Colonial Empires The Shifting Fortunes of Colonial (186-216) Tuesday 02/21 Empires “I Have Seen Corruption…” (K. 131-132) (13) Colonial Journalism in Action (K. 218-220) A Charter of Liberty (K. 230-232)

Friday 02/24 MIDTERM EXAM

(14) The New Nations of Latin America (216-240) Tuesday 02/28 The New Nations of Latin America The Forging of a Rebel (K. 241-244) (15) Essay: presentation The Reforms of Hidalgo (K. 255-256)

Regionalism, War, and Reconstruction… (242-270) Facundo: Barbarian Caudillo (K. 286-291) – Friday 03/03 Regionalism, War, and… 1821-1880 Reading (16) Community Roads to the Future (K. 308-312) – Reading Community

NO CLASS Tuesday 03/07 SPRING BREAK

NO CLASS Friday 03/10 SPRING BREAK

Regionalism, War, and Reconstruction… Regionalism, War, and… 1821-1880 (242-270) Tuesday 03/14 Reform by Revolution (K. 320-327) (17) A Mexican Radical (K. 327-330)

Everyday Life in an Uncertain Age (271-298) Black Slavery Under the Empire (K. Friday 03/17 Everyday Life… 1821-1880 330-332) (18) The Antislavery Impulse (K. 332-341) On Racial Miscegenation in Brazil (K. 341-343)

Economic Modernization, Society, and Politics (300-326) Porfirio Díaz Assesses His Legacy (K. Tuesday 03/21 Economic Modernization,… 1880-1920 354-357) (19) Porfirio Díaz, Viceroy of Mexico (K. 357-363)

Our America (K. 378-383) – Reading Friday 03/24 The U.S. and Latin America, 1823-1898 Community (20) The Monroe Doctrine (K. 521-523)

The White Man’s Burden (K. 530-536) The U.S. and Latin America, 1898-1933 Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (K. Tuesday 03/28 The U.S. and Latin America, 1933-1959 536-538) (21) To Roosevelt (K. 538-540) Operation Guatemala (K. 544-551) Watch the film on Netflix before class and prepare 6 questions for director Jayro Bustamante Ixcanul (Film) Friday 03/31 (3 on the Dialogue with film director Jayro (22) film, and 3 on Guatemalan society, Bustamante Guatemalan history,

and/or what it means to be a film director in Guatemala)

Between Revolutions… (327-350) People and Progress (352-373) Between Revolutions… 1920-1959 Tuesday 04/04 Perón Appeals to the People (K. 409-411) People and Progress, 1910-1959 (23) Of Man, Woman, and Time (K. 415-418)

What Is APRA? (K. 396-402)

Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Present (375-383) Friday 04/07 Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the History Will Absolve Me (K. 433-439) – (24) Present Reading Community

Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Present Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the (383-389) Present Tuesday 04/11 Open Letter to the Military Junta (K. Closing date* to present the outline of (25) 448-455) – Reading the Community Essay to the professor

Friday 04/14 NO CLASS GOOD FRIDAY

Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Present Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Tuesday 04/18 (389-391) Present (26) Mothers of the Disappeared (K. 455-457)

Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Present Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the (389-391) Friday 04/21 Present I, Rigoberta Menchu (handout) (27) Granito, How To Nail a Dictator (film) Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech (handout)

Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Present Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Present Tuesday 04/25 Granito, How To Nail a Dictator (film) (389-391) (28) Essay: due date

Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the Present Revolution, Reaction… :1959 to the (391-399) Friday 04/28 Present Everyday Life: 1959 to the Present (29) Everyday Life: 1959 to the Present (401-424) Lula Speaks Out (K. 477-480) The New Populism (K. 507-511) Wednesday 5/3 FINAL EXAM (3:00 – 5:00)

* For the Essay, when you have a detailed outline with a thesis statement and a bibliography, please make an appointment to come to see me (no later than Tuesday 04/11) to talk about it. At least one day before our appointment, please send to me an electronic version of your detailed outline.