History 691LA - S-Conversations/Modern LatinAm

We often take for granted that there is a region known as Latin America. Yet, the many countries that constitute it have individual histories that are sometimes quite distinct from each other. There are, however, important similarities and continuities in their histories. The vast majority of the region gained independence from Spain and Portugal in the 1820s. Mexico endured a decade of bloody conflict with Spain and its local allies, while Brazil severed ties with Portugal through a simple declaration. Cuba remained a colony of Spain until 1898, and then came under direct and later indirect U.S. control. Puerto Rico went from Spanish to U.S. control, and remains a part of the United States. And, yet these countries and others have important shared histories. This seminar examines the primary themes in Modern Latin American History through a close reading of major works in the historiography. Topics include the development of modern export economies, the role of foreign actors, especially the United States, in the region, political revolutions, and the struggle to create democratic societies in the region. Students will write a series of short papers on the assigned readings throughout the semester.