Latin History III

Third Essay Option October 24, 2018

History 131 Bergen Community College

Answer one of the questions below in essay form, with a clear introduction, body and

conclusion. Do not exceed 4 double-spaced pages using a 12 point font and one inch

margins. The work must be based only on class notes, readings from Moodle or Looking

for History. No outside sources are permitted. Lastly, a Chicago style bibliography must

be included. Consult the following link if any questions arise regarding the correct format:

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html

The following rubric shall be employed in arriving at the final mark:

50% - Strength of argument (use relevant evidence from the readings to support arguments,

and answer all parts of the question)

25% - Understanding of the question and readings (use all the sources indicated by the

question and limit factual errors)

25% - Grammar and bibliography (proofread, proofread, proofread)

Essays are due promptly at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7. Submit them via email

to [email protected] as Word, PDF, ODT, or Google Docs files. Papers received after

1:45 p.m. will be assessed a five point penalty. No work will be accepted after 3 p.m.

1. Rank the following events in terms of their influence in Latin America: 1) Lázaro Cárdenas’ nationalization of Mexico’s oil in 1938 2) Jorge Gaitán’s assassination

in 1948 3) Eva Perón’s powerful position as a woman in Argentine politics, and 4)

Fidel Castro’s attempt to spread his revolution outside Cuba. Base your argument

on evidence from “Lázaro Cárdenas: The Missionary General,” “Little Eva,”

“Argentina since 1946,” “Love in Power,” “The Bogotazo,” “Encounters on the

Middle Ground,” “The Harsh Angel,” and “The Petrified Forest.”

2. How did Lázaro Cárdenas, Juan Perón, Jorge Gaitán, and Getúlio Vargas try to help the poor in their respective countries? To what extent were they successful

and how did they fail? Based on the evidence, which leader’s methods worked

best? Whose were least effective? Support your argument using “Lázaro Cárdenas:

The Missionary General,” “Encounters on the Middle Ground,” “Different

Getúlios,” “Vargas’ Unfinished Revolution,” “Ordinary People: Five Lives

Affected by Vargas-Era Reforms,” “Love in Power,” “Argentina since 1946,” and

“Little Eva.”

3. Why is Fidel Castro’s revolution considered the most influential event in twentieth century Latin America? Address the following: 1) young Latin Americans who

came of age during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s who were disgusted with poverty

and inequality 2) the achievements of Cuba’s Communist state 3) reactions of the

United States government 4) the influence of Che Guevara. Support your argument

using “Chuquicamata,” “Cuba since 1959,” pages 694-708 of Biography of Power,

“War Against Cuba,” “The Harsh Angel,” “The Petrified Forest,” “Cuba as an

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,” and “The Yankee Comandante.”