HIST 3390: Latin America Revolution & Repression Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:35-12:55 Classroom: MCCAIN ARTS&SS 2130 Instructor: Dr. Carlos Pessoa Office Location: Henry Hicks, 354 Office Hours: Friday, 4:00-5:00 PM. Email: cr966457@dal.ca DESCRIPTION This course aims to introduce Latin American history from the colonial period up to 20 th century and present times. We start by discussing the colonial period and its heritage to contemporary Latin America. We then look at the independence period, examining the discontinuities and continuities of the post-independent movements. We give a detail discussion on the Latin American society during the nineteenth century. We then discuss two revolutions in the region: The Mexican Revolution, a key historical event that initiated modern period in Latin America; and the Cuban Revolution, a key historical even in contemporary times. From there, we will look at historical development of three key countries in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and the region of Central America region. The last two weeks discuss culture and society in today s Latin America. We examine how different ethnic groups have contributed to the formation of Latin American culture; and how past contemporary social structures can still be found in today s Latin America. TEXTBOOK Benjamin Keen and Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, Vol. II, ninth edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2013. (required) Thomas Skidmore and Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, seventh edition. New York: Oxford Press, 2010(reserve room). ASSIGNMENTS Participation: 10% Exam I: 30% (October 17) Essay: 30% (November 15) Exam II (TBA by Registrar Office): 30%
Participation: Participation is important in this course. Attendance is taken five times, randomly, each worth 2%. In order to receive the full 10% of the participation mark, students need to be in class and sign the attendance sheet. Essay To write a paper is an important practice for academic life. Students are required a fully written eight-page paper (excluding front cover, endnotes and cited works). The paper should be typed, double-spaced, on a Times News Roman font of 12cpi with page numbers. It should be based on any topic relevant to the course. The approval of the topisc is required, as irrelevant topics are not accepted and automatically leads to an F for the assignment. This assignment requires time in the library and the proper use of citations throughout the text. A separate essay guide will be circulated in class. The assignment requires a minimum of four sources. Paper with less the required amount of sources will receive an F for the assignment. The student is responsible to keep an extra copy of his paper, in case the professor requests it. Failure to provide an extra copy of the paper on request will lead to an F as a mark for the assignment. Late Policy Essays are due at the beginning of the class. Extension of deadline is granted only due to illness, and must be followed by appropriate documents. Late papers will be penalized 5% per day, for a maximum of three days. Exams Each of the exams is based on readings and lectures notes upon the class before the exam. They should be written in pen. IN-CLASS ETIQUETTE RULES The following are prohibited in the classroom: - Speaking or text messaging on the phone (you are required to turn off your cell phone while in class) - Listening to music
- Reading (unless requested by the professor) - Eating or drinking - Frequent entering and exiting the classroom - Chatting with friends and other distracting behavior Please be sure to follow these rules. You will be asked to leave otherwise, and might receive F as final grade for the course. Accommodation Statement: Students may request accommodation as a result of barriers related to disability, religious obligation, or any characteristic under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. Students who require academic accommodation for either classroom participation or the writing of tests and exams should make their request to the Advising and Access Services Center (AASC) prior to or at the outset of the regular academic year. Please visit www.dal.ca/access for more information and to obtain the Request for Accommodation Form A. A note taker may be required as part of a student s accommodation. There is an honorarium of $75/course/term (with some exceptions). If you are interested, please contact AASC at 494-2836 for more information. Please note that your classroom may contain specialized accessible furniture and equipment. It is important that these items remain in the classroom, untouched, so that students who require their usage will be able to participate in the class. Academic Integrity Statement: All students in this class are to read and understand the policies on academic integrity and plagiarism referenced in the Policies and Student Resources sections of the academicintegrity.dal.ca website. Ignorance of such policies is no excuse for violations. Any paper submitted by a student at Dalhousie University may be checked for originality to confirm that the student has not plagiarized from other sources. Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offence which may lead to loss of credit, suspension or expulsion from the University, or even to the revocation of a degree. It is essential that there be correct attribution of authorities from which facts and opinions have been derived. At Dalhousie there are University Regulations which deal with plagiarism and, prior to submitting any paper in a course, students should read the Policy on Intellectual Honesty contained in the Calendar or on the Online Dalhousie website. The Senate has affirmed the right of any instructor to require that
student papers be submitted in both written and computer-readable format, and to submit any paper to be checked electronically for originality. As a student in this class, you are to keep an electronic copy of any paper you submit, and the course instructor may require you to submit that electronic copy on demand. Deadline to Withdraw Last day to withdraw without the appearance of a W on the transcript is October 7. Last day to withdraw with a W is November 4. PROGRAM September 05: Introduction We start with an exposition and thorough explanation and expectations of the course and its assignments. Students are asked to fill in the Student Profiles, to help keep track of their marks and progress. September 10 & 12: Independence & Colonial Heritages Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 9. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 2. Discuss the wars of independence and its effects on landed aristocracy and the military. Discuss the economic and social roots of caudillismo September 17 & 19: Post-independence Regimes and Society in 19 th century. Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 10 & 11.
Discuss the abolition of slavery in Brazil and its impacts afterwards to Brazilian society. Discuss the Mexican advancements and limitations under Porfirio Diaz September 24 & 26: Mexican Revolution Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 12. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 3. Discuss the differences between Zapata and Villa calls for reforms. Discuss the U.S. policy to the Mexican Revolutions and its impacts. October 1 & 3: The Cuban Revolution Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 15. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 5. Discuss the structural causes, or agential factors, for the making of the Cuban revolution in 1959. Discuss the role of Che Guevara in the formation of economic and foreign policy. October 8 & 10: Video: Fidel Castro Questions for the discussions Was the Cuban revolution solely dependable on Fidel Castro What are the effects of after-fidel period on the Cuban revolution. October 15: Revision October 17: Exam I
October 22 & 24: Military Regime in Argentina Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 14. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 9. What role did women play in the political, social and economic development of Argentina? Discuss Argentinean populism and its roots. October 29 & 31: Revolution and military repression in Brazil Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 13. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 11. Discuss the importance of Getulio Vargas policies and program to modern Brazil Discuss the social origins of samba and how it contributed to the Brazilian national identity November 5 & 7: Revolution and Military Regime in Chile Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 17. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 10. Discuss the role of women to the national development of Chile Discuss the role the U.S. play to overthrow the democratically-elected regime in Chile, during the early 1970s. November 12: Study Day (no Class)
November 14: Revolution in Central America Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 18. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 4. Discuss the Sandinistas Revolution impacts on the Nicaraguan revolution. Discuss the Salvadorian FMLN and its policies, before and after the civil war. November 19 & 21: Revolution in Venezuela Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 19. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 8. Discuss how Oil industry and its wealth had been used in different ways for generating socio-economic development in Venezuela. Discuss the positive and negative points of present revolutionary government of Hugo Chavez November 26 & 28: Economic Strategies and Repression Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 20 & 21. Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 12. Discuss the economic strategy of Neo-structuralism in Latin America. What factors explain the contemporary rise of left in Latin America? December 3: Conclusion (Latin America Today!)
Discussions about the course and informal evaluations