The student will be able to:

1. Describe the geography of the Americas and explain its impact on the region's inhabitants.
2. Discuss the cultural background of Spain, Portugal, Africa, and pre-Columbian America, and the synthesis of these cultures into modern Latin America.
3. Trace the emergence of Latin American independence movements and describe the challenges faced by the newly independent nations.
4. Explain the evolution of social and governmental structures and practices in the newly independent nations of Latin America.
5. Analyze the influence of the European social, political, economic, and intellectual heritage on contemporary Latin America, and evaluate the importance of this heritage in modern political movements.
6. Interpret current developments in Latin America and the importance of such developments to all the Americas and the world.
7. Apply skills developed in analysis of historical evidence and in constructing and defending historical arguments.
8. Demonstrate a knowledge of key historiographical arguments and issues related to the history of Latin America.

1. Geography of Latin America
   1. Examination of major topographical and climatic features
   2. Assessment of impact on pre-Colombian cultures
   3. Assessment of impact on subsequent social, political, and economic development
2. Pre-Columbian societies
   1. Competing theories of migration to Americas
   2. Evaluation of patterns of settlement and development
   3. Examination of lesser native societies
   4. Rise of complex civilizations
   5. Comparison of social, political, economic, and religious aspects of native civilizations
3. Exploration and encounter
   1. Iberian background and early exploration
   2. Reconquista
   3. Encounter and conquest
   4. Native reaction and resistance
   5. Assessment of impact of Columbian Exchange
4. Colonial Period
   1. African background and introduction of slavery
   2. Portuguese colonization of Brazil
   3. Transfer of Iberian political, social, and economic institutions
   4. Evaluation of role of church in empire
   5. Racial stratification and the castas system
5. Wars of Independence
   1. Analysis of eighteenth century reforms and reaction
   2. European and American influences on independence
   3. Comparison of independence movements in Mexico, Venezuela, and the Southern Cone
   4. Brazilian independence
   5. Assessment of immediate impacts of independence
6. Post-Colonial Period
   1. Evaluation of social, cultural, and economic changes after independence
   2. Development of modern Latin American states
   3. Patronage politics and caudillismo
7. Order and progress
   1. Achieving political stability
   2. Rise of liberalism
   3. Evaluation of political, social, and economic reforms
   4. Assessment of impact of foreign investment and industrialization
   5. Political evolution towards authoritarian governments
8. Revolutionary option
   1. Causes of Cuban War of Independence
   2. American involvement and development into Spanish War of 1898
   3. Causes of the Mexican Revolution
   4. Course and consequences of the Mexican Revolution
9. U.S.-Latin American relations
   1. Evaluation of origins in the Monroe Doctrine
   2. Expansion of U.S. influence, 1865-1898
   3. Analysis of evolving U.S. policies after acquisition of Panama Canal
   4. Assessment of neocolonialism
   5. Impacts of the Good Neighbor Policy
10. Nationalism
    1. Indigenismo movements and cultural change
    2. Import substitute industrialization
    3. Impacts of World War I
    4. Comparison of populism in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina
    5. Political revolutions in Cuba and Guatemala
11. Reactionary Period
    1. Latin America during the Cold War
    2. Rise of the Bureaucratic Authoritarian State
    3. Reactions to military dictatorships
12. Post-Cold War Latin America
    1. Economic crises
    2. Free trade agreements and reactions
    3. Latin America and the War on Terror

Not applicable.

Class discussion
Quizzes
Midterm and final essay examinations
Student presentations
Research paper

Lecture
Discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Oral presentations

Burkholder, Mark, and Lyman Johnson. Colonial Latin America, 10th ed.. 2018.

Dawson, Alexander. Latin America since Independence: A History with Primary Sources, 3rd ed.. 2022.

Meade, Theresa. A History of Modern Latin America: 1800 to the Present, 3rd ed.. 2018.

Supplemental texts and readings as assigned by instructor.

1. 40-50 pages of weekly reading from the assigned text
2. Supplemental readings from journal articles, monographs, or other historically relevant sources
3. Written papers