HIST 221 Latin America: Post-1821 a survey of Latin American history from independence to the present. Major themes examined include post-colonial efforts to develop and modernize new nation-states, the development and impact of neocolonialism, the rise, impact and responses to both nationalist and revolutionary movements in the 20th century, and the impact of the United States foreign policy on Latin America and its peoples.
Prerequisites: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 or ENGL 60 with a minimum grade of 60%
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
|---|
| Total Credits | |
|---|
| Total Hours | 45 |
|---|
Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
|---|
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Understand current issues and problems of Latin America from a historical perspective
- Understand local and regional development and change within a broader, hemispheric context
- Apply critical thinking and analysis to historical writings, evidence, and interpretations
- Research and write effectively making use of on-line and print library materials
- Appraise and respectfully respond to presentations and discussions
Teaching and Learning Approach
HIST221 unfolds as a combination of lectures, discussion-based seminars, and activities aimed at developing
academic and discipline-specific skills in reading, analytical thinking, research, and written and oral
communications. Exams, assignments, and in-class exercises enable students to put the knowledge and skills
they are acquiring to work in a variety of contexts while providing some flexibility to pursue areas of specific
interest. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to consider continuities that link the contemporary
world to issues and events of the past while observing the pitfalls of ‘presentism,’ or the evaluation of the past
through the lens of contemporary expectations as to ‘how things should be.’ A detailed weekly schedule will be
distributed at the start of the course.Learning Resources
Required:
th
Keen, Benjamin, and Keith Haynes. A History of Latin America. 9 ed. Boston, MA: Cengage, 2013.
This textbook covers both HIST 220 and HIST 221 during the 2025/26 academic year. To purchase the digital
edition see https://www.cengage.ca/c/a-history-of-latin-america-9e-keen-haynes/9781133050506/Detailed Course Content, Topics, and Sequence Covered
1. Course Introduction
2. Latin America in the Nineteenth Century
3. Latin America in the Nineteenth Century (continued)
4. The Twentieth Century (Overview)
5. The Twentieth Century (Overview continued)
6. The Twentieth Century: Mexico
7. STUDY WEEK -- NO CLASSES
8. The Twentieth Century: Brazil
9. The Twentieth Century: Argentina
10. The Twentieth Century: Cuba
11. The Twentieth Century (continued)
12. Latin America Since the 1990s
13. Latin America Since the 1990s (continued)
14. Course Conclusion
15. Final Exam PeriodAssessment
| Title | Learning Outcomes | Value |
|---|
| Urban History Project | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 20% |
| Research Paper Proposal | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 10% |
| Research Paper Assignment Exercises (Quizzes, Reviews, and Reading | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 25% |
| Response Questions) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 20% |
| Map Quiz | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 5% |
| Final Exam | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Table
Standard Academic and Career Programs Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.