| 1. |
Focus Question: What was the nature of Latin American
social and economic life after the Wars of Independence? |
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Why has Latin America been less stable and prosperous than Europe and North America? Why did Latin Americas leaders seek to
develop export economies? Why was this decision unfortunate?
How did Latin America resemble the economies of Africa and Asia?
What was the condition of Latin America following the War of Independence? To which country did most Latin American governments look to for protection, markets and investment? What sources of discontent were not solved by independence? What was the attitude of literate
political or economic elites toward social reform? What were
the limitations of civil equality after the wars of independence?
Which was the only country to experience a fundamental revolution before
the 1950s? What was the single most important factor in Latin American
history during the first century of independence? Where did most
Latin Americans live during the 19th century? From where did the
liberals get new lands to expand the great estate system? Which class
dominated Latin America during the first half of the 19th century, how
did this change in the latter half of the century? What accounts
for the remarkable growth in Latin American urban life during the second
half of the 19th century? |
| 2. |
Focus Question: How did Latin America's social and
political structure reflect its economic system? |
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How did European liberalism express itself in the Latin American context?
Why did Latin Americans champion free trade? What justification did
Latin American liberals give for seizing Church and Indian lands?
Which European philosopher enjoyed the greatest prestige in L.A. during
the 19th century? How was "scientific racism" applied in L.A.
to justify the status quo? How did the militaries tend to see their
role in society? How did Latin Americans pay for needed foreign imports
and services? Why was the method relatively successful?
What was the economic situation in Latin America after 1850? When was L.A.’s
“golden age” of economic prosperity? What type of goods did L.A.
export? For what purpose was the transport system in Latin American
generally constructed? |
| 3. |
Focus Question: How does Latin America's history define its
present political and economic situation? |
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Why did L.A. have a false sense of economic security during the last
part of the 19th c.? Why did Latin America fail to industrialize
in the late 19th century? What major foreign power exercised economic
influence over Latin America in the early decades of the 19th century and
remained the dominant power until the turn of the century? What factors
relegated L.A. to a dependent trading partner after the 1920's? What
impact did the Great Depression have on Latin America? When did the
new economic era in Latin American begin, and what was its aim? What
role had industrialization played in Latin America's neo-colonial economy?
What type of manufacturing was done in L.A. prior to the 1950s? In
what ways did the monarchical heritage of Latin America continue to
survive after independence? What was the real basis for the rule
of the caudillos? |
| 4. |
Focus Question: Why did many Latin American nations find
it difficult to develop stable political regimes? |
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What political struggle defined early Argentine history? When
and how did Argentinia become prosperous? What led to its economic
decline and how has this resulted in political instability? In what
sense has Mexican history been defined by a struggle to complete the revolution
of 1811 by Morelos and Hidalgo? What changes did the revolutionary
governments of twentieth century Mexico make? How and why was Brazil
different from other newly independent nations in Latin America?
What accounted for these differences? |