outline

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History 161: Latin American History

Final exam: study questions

Friday, December 13, 10:15-12:15

Format of the exam: bring at least one blue book. You are allowed to bring an outline for the long essay.

Each outline for each question should be no longer than one page: one side only and one outline per

page. During the exam, only the outline of the question chosen will be allowed so make sure you

prepare them in separate sheets. Read the instructions carefully and make sure to ask all the pertinent questions before the day of the exam. Feel free to email me any questions about the exam. I am happy to look

at drafts of the outlines. Your deadline to submit a draft is Thursday, December 12 at noon.

The final exam will consist of three main parts:

Section A: long essay, worth 40 points

Section B: short essay, worth 25 points

Section C: multiple choice, worth 35 points

Section A: long essay, worth 40 points. Two of the following six questions will appear on the exam. You will

have to choose only ONE. Plan to allocate around 45/60 minutes to respond to this question. Write the

outline at home, read it several times to make sure it discusses all the relevant material and become very

familiar with it. Try to use examples from the sources discussed in class, the readings, and the lectures.

1- “The course of events in the Western Hemisphere over the centuries following contact demonstrates

that the Iberian factor in early Latin America was uniform and the result of long term processes. The

native peoples and the resources of their lands were the primary determinants of differentiation.”

In an integrated essay, discuss this statement with special emphasis on the long term processes, “uniformity”

of the Iberian experience, the “diversity” of native peoples, the reasons for the conquest success and its

consequences. In order to prepare for this essay you may want to consider at least (but not only) the

following questions: Why did the Iberians come to Latin America? What did they find in Latin America?

How did the Latin American circumstances shape the conquest? How and where did the Iberians develop a

“conquest strategy?” What explains the conquest success? What were the consequences of the conquest?

2- “After the conquest epoch, the Spanish Indies experienced a long time of relative stability and slow

evolution. During this period, the conditions created by the conquest had entered into certain

equilibrium with some rather uniform hallmarks such as a centralized political and economic

administration and a distinctive and hierarchical social structure. The eighteenth century altered this

pattern profoundly.”

Critically analyze the statement focusing on the stability of political and economic institutions, the ethnic

hierarchy, and the changes that resulted from the Bourbon reforms. In order to prepare for this essay you may

want to consider at least (but not only) the following questions: How did the Spanish authorities guarantee

control over such a large Empire? How effective was that rule? How was the Spanish economic rule in Latin

America organized? How did the Spanish authorities manage to extract profits from the colonies? How was

society organized? What determined a person’s position in society? How did the Bourbon reforms change the

system? What were the consequences?

3- “If we are to understand neocolonial Latin America (ca 1850-1930), it must be placed in the context

of the liberal/positivist formula “order and progress” and the distinctions between “growth and

development.”

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After examining the most important aspects of the neocolonial model, choose one country and explain how

the model was applied. In order to prepare for this essay you may want to consider at least (but not only) the

following questions: What were the most important features of the neocolonial model? What was the role of

the world economy in shaping this model? How was order implemented? What did progress mean? How did

Latin American countries become integrated into the world economy? What were the main consequences of

the neocolonial model? How did those changes influence the future development of Latin America? What

were the limitations of the model?

4- “Nationalism and populism impelled change in 20 th

century Latin America. Both forces have been in

the vanguard of those encouraging the development of Latin America, and thus have served as eager

agents of change.”

After examining the most important aspects of nationalism and populism, choose one populist government

and explain its administration. In order to prepare for this essay you may want to consider at least (but not

only) the following questions: What is nationalism? What is populism? Why did populist/nationalist leaders

come to power? What are the goals of populist/nationalist leaders? How are populist leaders supporting the

nationalist agenda? How did populists governments come to power? What groups provided the largest

support for those governments? What changes did populist leaders implement in Latin American societies?

5- “The Porfiriato resulted in dramatic growth and extreme inequality for the Mexican population.

The 1910 Revolution was an attempt to change that, in particular with the Constitution of 1917 and

the administration of Lázaro Cárdenas.”

Briefly explain the neocolonial model in Mexico and then examine how the revolution changed it. In order to

prepare for this essay you may want to consider at least (but not only) the following questions: What were

the most important characteristics of the Porfiriato? How did the neocolonial order affect Mexican politics,

economy, and society? When and why did the Mexican revolution take place? Who participated in the

Revolution? Was the Mexican Revolution a political or a social revolution, or both? What are the most

significant aspects of the 1917 Constitution? Who was Lázaro Cárdenas? What style of leadership did he

follow? How did his administration revive the ideals of the Mexican revolution?

6- “The early 1960s resulted in political and social unrest that, in conjunction with the Cuban

revolution, led to the military dictatorships of the late 1960s and 1970s. Military governments took the

helms of most Latin American countries, claiming that democracy fostered dissent.”

Discuss this statement with emphasis on the main features of military dictatorships in Latin American

politics, economies, and societies. You could choose to respond to this question by focusing on one country

specifically or by examining general aspects of dictatorships. In order to prepare for this essay you may want

to consider at least (but not only) the following questions: Why did military dictatorships take over

democratic governments in Latin America? What measures did they employ to remain in power? What was

the Doctrine of National Security? What were the most significant political, economic and social changes

that characterized the military regimes? Once in power, were the regimes popular, prosperous or productive

in any way?

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Section B: primary source interpretation, worth 25 points. In this section you will be presented with TWO

different primary sources. You are expected to examine only ONE addressing its most significant historical

aspects (at least three). Plan to allocate 20/30 minutes to respond to this question. The primary sources could

consist of an image, a section of the books discussed in class, or any of the sources discussed during lectures.

They could be one sentence or one paragraph long. In any case, they will be very illustrative of the ideas you

have to discuss so you should not have a problem identifying and analyzing them.

For example: “Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.” Christopher Columbus.

In this quote you could refer to Spain’s approach to the spice trade, to the arrival of Columbus to the

Americas as part of a longer process, to the Reconquista mentality, to commercial expansion, to Portugal’s

different approach to reach the East, etc.

Or

In this case you should discuss the castas system, the reasons for its creation, the importance that colonial

authorities gave to people’s race, the position of people in colonial society, the possibilities that existed to

“negotiate” race through the “gracias al sacar.”

Section C: multiple choice and true or false, worth 35 points. The questions and statements included in this

section are intended to demonstrate clear understanding of the most important concepts discussed in class.

Please refer to the terms listed on your syllabus as a reference to prepare for this section.