The Course

History 101-77 Latin American Revolutions Fall 2019

Prof. Katie Holt

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9:00 to 9:50

Kauke 136

Course Description

¡Viva la revolución!  Pancho Villa and Che Guevara were heroes to millions, but to others they were violent traitors.  If one of the basic questions of history is examining change versus continuity, what better way to understand historical processes than the study of revolutions?  This introductory course examines the history of 20th and 21st century Latin American revolutions.  In addition to considering ideas about how, when, and why people rebel, we’ll focus on case studies from Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. To what extent are these revolutions the continuation of social, economic, and racial conflicts lingering after the colonial wars of independence?  We’ll emphasize how historians practice historical empathy through the analysis of multiple, often contradictory viewpoints to build an understanding of the past.

Student Learning Goals:

At the end of the semester, you should be able to meet the following departmental learning goals:

  1. Historical Thinking: Frame a historical argument about how to interpret Latin American revolutions using primary and secondary sources as evidence.   Demonstrate a global awareness of the peoples and cultures of Latin America and how ethnic identity, race, gender, and class intersect to shape a diversity of individual experiences.  Practice historical empathy by understanding the past in its own terms.
  2. Historical Knowledge: Identify the principal events, people, and institutions that shaped the Mexican, Cuban, Chilean, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan revolutions, and explain their significance.  Read critically and evaluate divergent interpretations of Latin American history.
  3. Critical Reasoning: Demonstrate your mastery of the central skills of historical research, including the ability to formulate a historical argument using primary and secondary sources as evidence.
  4. Clear Communication: Organize, present, and communicate your own reactions to course materials in class discussions, short blog posts, formal papers, and exams.

Wooster Degree Requirement Designations: HSS; Global Engagement (G); Social Justice (SJ)