US-Latin American Relations

Catalog description

This course focuses on the history of relations between Latin America and the United States from early nineteenth century to the present. We will explore how and why the U.S. became a world power by the end of the nineteenth century and examine the economic, political, cultural, and social repercussions of this shift in Latin America as these nations struggle to define themselves as sovereign entities. We should be mindful of the various internal conditions of Latin American nations that have prompted different responses from Washington D.C. While part of this course explores cases of intervention and conflict, we will also examine how Latin America has influenced U.S. policy and culture.