Unit Focus
Emergence of the Americas in global affairs (1880–1929)This section focuses on the impact of modernization in the region on foreign policy, including an exploration of the involvement of the region in the First World War. Modernization shaped the new nations, and its effects created the basis for a major shift in the foreign policies of the region. By the end of the 19th century, for example, the United States played a more active role in world affairs and in the affairs of Latin America in particular, thus transforming inter-American relations. When the First World War ended, its impact was felt in the economic, social and foreign policies of the participating countries.
We may also look at the following:
- United States’ expansionist foreign policies: political, economic, social and ideological reasons
- Spanish–American War (1898): causes and effects
- Impact of United States’ foreign policies: the Big Stick; Dollar Diplomacy; moral diplomacy
- United States and the First World War: from neutrality to involvement; reasons for US entry into the First World War; Wilson’s peace ideals and the struggle for ratification of the Treaty of Versailles in the United States; significance of the war for the United States’ hemispheric status
- Involvement of one country of the Americas (except in the US) in the First World War: nature of, and reasons for, involvement
- Impact of the First World War on any two countries of the Americas: economic, political, social and foreign policies
We may also look at the following:
- Comparison with later conflicts in the Americas, such as the Falklands/Malvinas War and the Contra War
Unit Reading and Activities
- History of the Americas Course Companion – Chapter 1 (pp. 1-29) Assignments for grading listed in Google Classroom
- Class Discussion Point - Role of a Powerful Navy, p. 8
- Research Skills (pg. 9) using the reading and any other helpful sources
- Class Discussion Point (pg. 14) Influence of the Press
- Thinking Skills (pg. 15) Historical arguments for Spanish-American War
- Class Discussion (pg. 16) Industrialization and war
- Class Discussion ( pg. 17) Non-military deaths in war
- Class Discussion (pg. 17) Organized Labor and Philippines
- Using the documents provided, answer the questions with the Imperial Debate activity (pp. 18-19)
- Warship Tonnage (pg. 21) What changed?
- Class Discussion (pg. 21) Great White Fleet
- Research Skill (pg. 22) Panama Canal
- Complete Activity Backing Down in Venezuela (pp. 23-24) Questions 1, 3 & 4
- Source Skills (pg. 25) Compare and Contrast TR & Taft
- Read the following documents for depth of understanding and discussion
- Canadian History in Documents – The Laurier Years (Expansion and Canada and the Empire)
- Document: The Roosevelt Corollary – Theodore Roosevelt
- Document: A Vindication of Cuba – Jose Marti
- Document: Imperialism in the Americas – Manuel Maldonado-Denis
- A History of Latin America –
- Directions: - Read the following Chapters or selections from A History of Latin America
Answer the following questions about your reading assignments from A History of Latin America.- Chapter 10 - The Triumph of Neocolonialism (pp. 210-230 up to Chile, pp. 234-241 Brazil, pp. 243-246 Central Am.)
- Read Chapter 12 – The Mexican Revolution and After (pp. 282-303 up to “The Big Bourgeoisie in Power”)
- Read Chapter 15 – Republican Brazil (pp. 364-370 up to Vargas)
- Read Chapter 17 – The Cuban Revolution (pp. 424-433 up to “Machado”)
- Read Chapter 20 – The Two Americas: United States – Latin American Relations (pp. 521-533) through Mexican Revolution
- Read pp. 336-338 (Military Dictatorship & Malvinas (Falkland Islands) War)
Read pp. 466-473 Nicaraguan Revolution (through Women and the Revolution)
Read pp. 543-549 (“Gunboat Diplomacy” through Latin America and the Gulf War)
- Directions: - Read the following Chapters or selections from A History of Latin America
- Illustrated History of Canada
- Read pp. 365-376 (Tall Ships and Telephones: The 1890s)
- Read pp. 403-409 (Laurier Liberalism)
| americas_in_global_affairs.ppt |
| the_united_states_becomes_a_world_power.pdf |
| spanish-american_war.pdf |
| canada_in_age_of_imperialism.ppt |
| the_mexican_revolution.ppt |
| 19th_cent_us_latin_am_relations.pptx |
