HIS 161 - Modern Latin America

1. Discuss the geography, politics, people, and culture of Latin American nations in the post-colonial context.
2. Examine the political, economic, and social institutions of the early Twentieth Century in Latin America.
3. Analyze US-Latin American relations including imperialism, communism, and gunboat diplomacy.
4. Analyze Twentieth Century guerrilla movements and the reaction of governments and military.
5. Discuss Latin America today including indigenous, political, economic, social events, and global issues.

1. Intensive Writing and Critical Inquiry
   1. Producing written discourse in more than one assignment through papers, reports, quizzes, tests, etc., which includes a minimum word standard of 3000 words.
   2. Written assignments emphasize critical inquiry which includes the gathering, interpreting, and evaluating of evidence.
   3. Includes a formal out of class paper of at least 1,500 words which requires critical inquiry and where the writer develops and supports a main idea.  
   4. Explicit writing instruction with timely feedback to help students improve their writing and critical inquiry skills is part of the course’s content.
   5. The evaluation of written assignments must include the overall quality of written work and critical inquiry, as measured by a rubric
   6. At least 50% of the student’s grade must be based on the written work and critical inquiry assignments.
2. Post-Colonial Consolidation
   1. Geography
   2. Early Nation Building
   3. Neocolonialism
   4. Society(ies) , cultural, and intellectual life
   5. Race and ethnicity
   6. Brazil
3. Early Twentieth Century
   1. Nationalism
   2. Rise of the military
   3. Modernization
   4. Economy
4. United States-Latin American Relations
   1. Monroe doctrine
   2. Imperialism
   3. Good neighbor
   4. Communism
   5. Gunboat diplomacy
   6. Retreat
5. Guerrilla Movements and Reaction
   1. Case studies of guerilla movements in Latin America
   2. Reaction of governments and military
   3. Dictatorships
   4. Human rights
6. Latin America Today
   1. Democracy
   2. Economics
   3. Globalization
   4. Social issues
   5. Indigenismo
   6. Arts and culture