Latin American History:19th and 20th Centuries

This course explores crucial issues in the history of Latin America, from the Independence period through the present. It will expose the class to a range of people, movements, ideologies, and events, which will allow students to critically examine the causes and outcomes of revolution and counterrevolution in Latin America, 1800-Present. Intimately tied to this history, the class will critically examine the role of the United States in Latin America as imperial actor and a destination for refugees seeking a better life. By the end of the semester, students should be able to articulate motivations of various actors in major events studied. They should be able to trace historic patterns across the region, while also identifying moments that altered the trajectory of communities, nations, regions, and/or the world at large. Finally, undergraduates should grasp the ways geopolitical strategies, nationalist movements, and transnational struggles have influenced both past and present realities for the people of Latin America.