Mexican History (HIST 392)
“Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States.”
–Common Mexican saying
| Fall 2018, Truman State University BH 212, MW 3:30-4:50 Office: MC 227 |
Marc Becker |
Description
This course surveys the history of Mexico from the earliest human inhabitation to the present. It will present different interpretations of the major themes and developments in Mexican history. A goal is to understand Mexico from the perspective of the Mexicans rather than from the point of view of the United States. It is important to understand, however, that Mexico is not a singular homogenous entity; there are “many Mexicos.” In particular, this course will emphasize the creation of Mexican identities, the role that Indigenous peoples and women have played in that creation, and how that role has changed over time.
This course meets the Intercultural Perspectives requirement of the Liberal Studies Program. As such, it will provide you with a greater knowledge and appreciation of cultural diversity through the study of encounters of Indigenous, European, and African worlds in Mexico. Hopefully this course will make you more aware of how culture has been used for political and social ends, including confronting racial discrimination, economic exploitation, and social injustice.
See the syllabus addendum on Blackboard for additional class policies.
Readings
Susan M. Deeds, Michael C. Meyer, and William L. Sherman, The course of Mexican history, Eleventh ed. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2017). ISBN: 9780190659011
William H. Beezley and Monica A. Rankin, Problems in modern Mexican history: sources and interpretations (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017). ISBN: 9781442241220
Paul Ganster and David E. Lorey, The U.S.-Mexican border today: conflict and cooperation in historical perspective, Third ed. (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015). ISBN: 9781442231115
Alan Knight, The Mexican Revolution: a very short introduction (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2016). ISBN: 9780198745631
Stuart B Schwartz, Victors and Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua views of the conquest of Mexico (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000). ISBN: 0312154089
Assignments and grades
Assignment Points
Weekly response papers (15 x 30 pts ea) 450 pts
Research paper proposal (Oct 27) 50
Primary source analysis (Nov 7) 100
Research paper (Dec 5) 200
Final exam 200
Weekly response papers: Prepare a one-page typed response to each week’s readings. Briefly state the authors’ main arguments and the evidence that they use. Examine the use of sources, methodology, and theory. Provide your own assessment or critique of the readings. Due at the beginning of class on Monday of each week (30 pts ea.).
Research paper proposal: Submit a paragraph describing your project, the research questions you seek to address with the project, a hypothesis of what you expect to find (the thesis statement of your research paper), and a preliminary bibliography of sources that you plan to use. Due Oct 24. 50pts.
Primary source: Select a primary source related to your research topic from the microfilm collection (http://library.truman.edu/microforms/subject_list.htm#Latin%20American%20History). Try to find something that relates as closely as possible to your research topic. Have me approve the source in advance, and then write a paper (typed, double-spaced, about 3 pages, citations, bibliography, page numbers) analyzing the document and its historical perspective. Attach a copy of the document to the essay. Due Nov 7. 100pts.
Research paper: Write a research paper on a topic related to Mexican history. The paper must use a minimum of six scholarly sources (including at least one book and one journal article) and one primary source, and should be 15-20 pages long, typed, double-spaced, and include citations, a bibliography, and page numbers. The format should follow Mary Lynn Rampolla, A pocket guide to writing in history. Due Dec 5. 200pts.
Final exam: The final exam is cumulative (200 pts).
Class Schedule
Week 1 (Aug 20/22) Ancient civilizations
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part I (“Pre-Colombian Mexico”)
Ganster, The U.S.-Mexican border Today, Introduction
Week 2 (Aug 27/29) Victors and Vanquished
Read: Schwartz, Victors and Vanquished
Week 3 (Sept 5) Conquest
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part II (“Colliding Worlds”)
Week 4 (Sept 10/12) Colony
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part III (“Living in the Viceroyalty”)
Ganster, The U.S.-Mexican border Today, ch. 1
Week 5 (Sept 17/19) Independence
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part IV (“Reform and Reaction”)
Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, ch. 1
Week 6 (Sept 24/26) Santa Anna
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part V (“The Trials of Nationhood”)
Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, ch. 2
Week 7 (Oct 1/4) Benito Juárez
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part VI (“Liberals and Conservatives”)
Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, chs. 3-4
Week 8 (Oct 8/10) Porfiriato
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part VII (“Modernization of Mexico”)
Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, ch. 5
Week 9 (Oct 15/17) Mexican Revolution
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part VIII (“Revolution”)
Week 10 (Oct 22/24) Mexican Revolution
Read: Knight, The Mexican Revolution
Week 11 (Oct 29/31) Mexican Revolution
Read: Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, ch. 6
Ganster, The U.S.-Mexican border Today, chs. 2-3
Week 12 (Nov 5/7) Reconstruction
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part IX (“Revolutionary Aftermath”)
Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, chs. 7-8
Week 13 (Nov 12/14) Rise of the Perfect Dictatorship
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part X (“Development and Dissent”)
Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, chs. 9-10
Ganster, The U.S.-Mexican border Today, chs. 4-5
Week 14 (Nov 26/28) Neoliberalism
Read: Meyer, Sherman, and Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, Part XI (“Crisis and Change”)
Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, ch. 11
Ganster, The U.S.-Mexican border Today, ch. 6
Week 15 (Dec 3/5) Immigration
Read: Beezley and Rankin, Problems in Modern Mexican History, ch. 12
Ganster, The U.S.-Mexican border Today, chs. 7-8
Final Exam: Mon, December 10, 3:30-5:20 p.m.