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: [email protected]
DESCRIPTION
This course aims to introduce Latin American history from the colonial
period up to 20th 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%
Presentation 30%
Essay I: 30% (October 16)
Essay II: 30 (December 2)
Participation:
Participation is important in this course. Attendance is taken five
times, randomly, each worth 1%. The other five percent will be based
on your contribution to class discussions. In order to receive the full
10% of the participation mark, students need to be in class, sign the
attendance sheet and participate during class discussions.
Essay
To write a paper is an important practice for academic life. Students
are required two fully written eight-page papers (excluding front
cover, endnotes and cited works). The paper should be typed, doublespaced, 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 topics 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. 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.
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 04: Introduction
We start with an exposition and thorough
expectations of the course and its assignments.
explanation
and
Students are asked to fill in the Student Profiles, to help keep track of
their marks and progress.
September 9 & 11: Independence & Colonial Heritages
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 9.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 2.
Possible Essay Questions
 Discuss the wars of independence and its effects on landed
aristocracy and the military.
 Discuss the economic and social roots of caudillismo
September 16 & 18: Post-independence Regimes and Society in
19th century.
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter 10
& 11.
Possible Essay Questions
 Discuss the abolition of slavery in Brazil and its impacts
afterwards to Brazilian society.
 Discuss the Mexican advancements and limitations under
Porfirio Diaz
September 23 & 25: Mexican Revolution
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter
12.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 3.
Possible Essay Questions
 Discuss the differences between Zapata and Villa calls for
reforms.
 Discuss the U.S. policy to the Mexican Revolutions and its
impacts.
September 30 & October 2: The Cuban Revolution
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter
15.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 5.
Possible Essay Questions
 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 7 & 9: 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 14: Group Presentation
Group I: Mexican Revolution I (Agency Factor)
Group II: Mexican Revolution II (Structural Factors)
October 16: Group Presentation
Group III: Cuban Revolution I (Agency Factor)
Group IV: Cuban Revolution II (Structural Factors)
October 21 & 23: Military Regime in Argentina
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America , chapter
14.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 9.
Possible Essay Questions
 What role did women play in the political, social and
economic development of Argentina?
 Discuss Argentinean populism and its roots.
October 28 & 30: Military Repression in Brazil
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America , chapter
13.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 11.
Possible Essay Questions
 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 4 & 6: Revolution and Military Regime in Chile
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America , chapter
17.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 10.
Possible Essay Questions
 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 11: Remembrance Day (No Class)
November 13: Revolution in Central America
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America, chapter
18.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 4.
Possible Essay Questions
 Discuss the Sandinistas Revolution impacts on the
Nicaraguan revolution.
 Discuss the Salvadorian FMLN and its policies, before and
after the civil war.
November 18 & 20: Revolution in Venezuela
Reading:
Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes, A History of Latin America , chapter
19.
Thomas Skidmore & Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, chapter 8.
Possible Essay Questions
 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 25:
Group I: Argentina
Group II: Brazil
November 27:
Group I: Chile
Group II: Central America
Group III: Venezuela
December 2: Conclusion (Latin America Today!)
Discussions about the course and informal evaluations