How the Americas Change, 1750 – Present
An essay/report of 7-10 pages, typed and double-spaced.
You will provide selective examples of “How the Americas Change” during the period 1750–2020.
Consider the following aspects of change during this period, based on assigned sources and lectures:
Imperialism – from the 18th to the 21st century
Political change – revolutions and independence, growth of populist and progressive issues
Migration – both internal and external
Wars – civil wars, foreign interventions and invasions, and major conflicts between nations
Urbanization – the growth of major cities, such as New York and Buenos Aires, why they grew and who lived there
Industrialization – economic change, including the modernization of agriculture
Militarization – political, social, and economic importance of military institutions in North and South America
Conclude your report with 1 – 2 paragraphs commenting on how the political, economic, and social characteristics of the Americas differ in 2019 from 1750.
None of you will create the same paper – but all of your papers will be similar in themes discussed because you have drawn the information for your report from similar sources.
Remember to never take TIME (when events happen) for granted – place your report in TIME (when) and SPACE (where).
Required Sources
Course books – select some information from all of these readings:
Marshall Eakin, The History of Latin America: Collision of Cultures.
Chapters primarily on the 19th century (chapters 13-16)
Chapters primarily on the 20th-21st (17-24, Epilogue) centuries
Select information from at least 3 of these chapters.
Mariano Azuela, The Underdogs;
Review supplementary readings in this text on the Mexican Revolution.
Also watch portions of the documentary on the Mexican Revolution, posted in Module 5.
Joseph Boyden, Louis Riel & Gabriel Dumont.
Bruce Cumings, The Korean War: A History.
Jordan Goodman, The Devil and Mr. Casement.
Kevin Starr, California: A History; one chapter.
Colin Woodard, American Nations.
Read Introduction, skim Part Two; Read Parts Three and Four, and Epilogue.
Course films
Comment on information from a minimum of six films from the course site, documentary and feature films.
Course articles – select some information from all of these readings:
“Background Readings: Americas in the 19th Century”.
“Comparing Frontiers” and “Frontier Violence in South America”.
Expanding frontiers in search of economic wealth from natural resources was not just a feature of the Texas/Kansas cattle frontier and cowboys. Present some examples from these sources.
“Latin America’s Wars of the 19th Century”.
Select and skim two articles from this collection to gain an understanding of how war influence the course of early national development in Latin America.
