HISTORY245
Lithograph of the Battle
at the National Cathedral of Mexico during the Mexican American War, September
1847.
Click here
or on the picture above to go to a PBS documentary discussion about the
Mexican-American War. Then be sure to also visit an opposing
site that emphasizes the Mexican
perspective of the war, by clicking on the button below.
Click with your mouse on the various
images on this page below to go to interesting and useful links related
to Latin America and the History of the Americas.
History
245: The History of
the Americas
College of the Canyons, Fall
Semester 2002
Section 37015 Tues. &
Thurs. 2:30 PM - 5:20 PM, Room V-111
Instructor: Michael Ward
history240@worldnet.att.net
Voice mail: (805) 655-5759
Office Hours: prior to and after class
on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Gaillard Cut, Panama Canal, Panama
CLICK
ON THE BUTTON BELOW TO GO TO THE
HISTORY
245 COURSE LECTURE PAGES
Welcome
to History 245: The History of the Americas. This course emphasizes
the interaction between the many American nations, especially highlighting
the relationship between the United States and Mexico, the Caribbean region,
Central America, and South America. The history of the Americas is
incredibly fascinating, and in our class, we will witness its unfolding
drama, pitched against a backdrop of rich and varied cultures, and equally
diverse environments.
This course will outline the cultural
and historical interaction between the various American states from prehistoric
times to the present, especially emphasizing develoments in the relationship
between the U.S. and Latin America since 1800. Topical lectures will
consist of presentations on various themes, relating the changing social,
political, and economic climates of this vast region and how they inter-related
and exchanged from one region to the next. Though topical, these
presentations will follow a loose chronology, spanning prehistoric times
to the present. I will provide outline handouts for each lecture,
with relevant terms, many of which will be used in the quiz and exams. 
An area larger
than the combined territories of Europe and the United States, Latin America
is again becoming a major player on the international world scene, and
its participation in an international free market economy reflects its
emerging autonomy from persistent colonialism, yet continuing its dependence
on foreign investment at the same time. Continually hampered in its
growth and development by its roots in Spanish, Portuguese, and French
colonialism, and by British, Dutch, German, and U.S. corporate/ economic
intervention, Latin American nations struggle to modernize. Moreover,
the diverse ethnicities and large peasant populations throughout the region
seek long awaited land reforms and the right to determine their own futures,
independent of strong arm dictators and dictatorial governments.
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders" on top of San Juan Hill,
Cuba, during the Spanish-American
War, 1898.
The history of the Americas is the story
of the epic cultural struggles between the peoples and nations of the western
hemisphere. It is intertwined with the history of the modern world,
and especially with the history of the United States. Its importance
and relevance to Americans and southern Californians cannot be over-emphasized,
as we experience the day-to-day legacy of this history, and as we together
enter the twenty-first century.
There will be two examinations for this
course, a midterm and a final, each involving answers to questions which
identify terms taken from the lecture/class outline handouts and readings.
The exams will also consist of essay questions taken from the assigned
readings. There will be no surprises, and I will inform you about
what to expect on the exams by supplying a list of the terms, IDs and essay
questions well before each test. In this way, you will have time
to prepare outlines and gather your thoughts, make your arguments, etc.
prior to the exam itself. If you attend the class lectures regularly,
and perform all of the assigned readings, you should have no problems with
the exams. If there are any concerns, or special needs in these areas,
be sure to let me know about them.
In addition to
the examinations, you will need to make a short presentation in class on
a current event pertaining to Latin America and the history of the Americas.
Begin watching the newspapers, the internet, television, etc., for current
issues and events before the media. Additionally, you will be assigned
to write a précis
on one of the assigned or suggested books, or on another book of your own
choosing (subject to my approval), relative to the history of Latin America.
Though very similar to a book review or report, a précis is somewhat
different, and I will supply instructions explaining what this assignment
is about so that you have an idea of its content and purpose. The
breakdown of the grading will be as follows:
Current Event
5%
Attendance
10%
Midterm Exam 30%
Book
Précis 25%
Final Exam
30%
____________________________
Total
100%
These are the percentages that make up
the total amount for your grade. The final grade
will be determined by how each individual
score meets a standard scale, adjusted to as needed to reflect the overall
performance of the class. In this way, it should be fairly simple
to earn a "C," but also somewhat of a challenge to get an "A." One
make-up midterm exam or one late paper may be accepted, pursuant to the
instructor’s discretion. Out of fairness to those students who complete
their work on time, 20% of the points earned will be deducted from the
score of all late work. Students must complete any acceptable make-up
exams or late papers within two weeks of the original exam date or due
date. Moreover, each and all students must take and pass the final
examination in order to pass the course.
Students who
miss a class in the first three weeks may be dropped from the course.
Students who miss nine or more hours of class over the first two months
may be dropped at the instructor’s discretion. Regular attendance
and class participation are important to achieving a high grade for this
course, and will be given special consideration when I evaluate borderline
grades, so please be sure to ATTEND CLASS REGULARLY.
Pay attention
to the calendar, add-drop deadlines, etc. I will remind you about
these dates, but remember that it is YOUR responsibility to submit all
required forms relative to your enrollment so know the deadlines for submitting
such materials. As far as this class is concerned, I will supply
a calendar of assignments in class and on the course home page. If
you have any questions or reservations about the curriculum, or about your
ability to perform the assigned tasks, let's talk about it. I am
committed to your success in this class, and to helping you to achieve
your goals at College of the Canyons. With that in mind, I will be
available for consultation before class and after class at the classroom
itself. I can also be reached by voice mail and email (I will return
all calls and emails).
I look forward
to this semester’s adventure of investigation into the history of the
Americas. We plan to have fun, and
I hope that the experience will be challenging to you, informative, enlightening,
and enoyable.
-- MKW
Required
Books:
Chasteen, John Charles, Born
in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America
(New York: W.
W. Norton & Company, 2001).
Argueta, Manlio, One
Day of Life, (New York: Aventura/Vintage Books, 1983).
Richard Harris, Death
of a Revolutionary: Che Guevara’s Last Mission (New York: W.
W. Norton & Company, 2000).
Important Links:
College of
the Canyon's HITE Program, which is highly recommended as an aid to university
transfer.
I will update our class announcement page
regularly and include interesting links relating to our class discussions
and to the history of the Americas. In addition to using this page
as our 24-hour class information center, it is also intended to serve as
a kind of forum to address questions of interest to our History 245 class.
Submit your comments and questions via email, and I will post the relevant
discussion on linked pages, with internet links and other references as
these are available. Thank you for your interest in this form of
communication.
-- Michael Ward
Images without captions include
the following, from top to bottom on this page: Pancho Villa on horseback,
Che
Guevara image after the Alberto Korda photograph made in Cuba on March
4, 1960.
This page was updated on Monday, August
16, 2004
history240@worldnet.att.net
Contact College
of the Canyons:
College of the Canyons
26455 Rockwell Canyon
Road
Santa Clarita, CA
91355
(661) 259-7800
College
of the Canyons
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