LA HARBOR COLLEGE
History 019- History of Mexico
3.00 Units (UC:CSU)
“History studies not just facts and institutions, its real subject is the human spirit”
“Language is the archives of history”
Fall 2014
Section#0740
12:45pm-2:10pm
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Room NEA 125
Contact Information
Instructor: Mario G. Valadez
Office: Faculty Office 163
Office Phone: 310-233-4571
E-mail: valademg@lahc.edu Voice Mail: 310-233-4698 X4866
Office Hours: MTWTH 7am-7:50am MW 11:30am-2:30pm
T 5:30pm-6:30pm
TH 2:30-5:00pm
Friday by Appointment
Class website: http://www.professormgvaladez.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProfValadez Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProfValadez13
Course Description
This course examines the history of Mexico including Indian Mexico, the Spanish Conquest,
War of Independence, the Age of Santa Anna, the Period of the Reform, and the Reign of
Diaz. The Revolution of 1910 and the Period of Reconstruction are also included. A review of
contemporary Mexico together with its cultural, social, political, and economic trends
concludes the course.
Student Learning Outcomes
The Student Learning Outcomes are as follows:
1. Analyze the major civilizations of Mesoamerica and the Spanish conquest in terms of
motivation, implementation, and its repercussions for native peoples.
2. Examine the effects of the Bourbon Reforms on political and social governance and
their relevance for the leadership of Mexico’s War of Independence.
3. Assess the influence of imperialism, both European and U.S. on Mexican history.
4. Describe the political, economic, religious and social development of Mexico in the 20th
and 21st centuries.
5. Identify, locate, and analyze primary and secondary sources that are pertinent to the
study of Mexican history.
Required Book
Meyer, Sherman, Deeds, The Course of Mexican History, 9th Edition, Oxford University
Press, 2011. ISBN-13: 978-0199730384
Students should also purchase eight 882 E SCANTRONS.
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Classroom Policies
It is essential that we work together as a class to create an environment in which everyone can
learn. Please turn off or put on silent mode all cell phones, iPods, CD players, or other
electronic devices. If you are caught using them in class, you will be asked to turn them off.
The 1st time is a warning. The second time you will be referred to the Vice President of
Student Services. If you want to use a recording device, you must consult with me in advance.
You may use your laptop to take notes. If you are caught using the computer for a different
purpose, you will be asked to turn it off. Side conversations or any disruptive behaviors will
not be tolerated. You will be warned once. The second offense will be considered a breach of
the student code of conduct and you will be referred to the Vice President of Student Services.
Please refer to pages 73-74 in the class schedule for details about the “Standards of Student
Conduct.”
This section is found at the following website:
http://www.lahc.edu/classes/Webfall2014schedule2.pdf
Students with Physical or Learning Disabilities
If you are requesting an accommodation come see me and contact Special Services and
Programs at (310) 233-4629. The office is in Cafeteria 108. Special services provide a wide
range of support.
Course Assignments/Requirements
Attendance and Participation: Students are expected to attend every meeting of all classes
for which he or she is registered. If you are unable to attend a class, e-mail me at
valademg@lahc.edu or leave me a message on my voice mail. Whenever absences “in hours”
exceed the number of hours the class meets per week, the student may be excluded from class
by the instructor. Students not in class when the role is taken will be counted absent. More
than two unexcused absences could result in a lowering of the grade or a student being
dropped. Leaving class early will result in an unexcused absence. Attendance may also be
taken at the end of the period. Regular and prompt attendance and note-taking on class
discussion and films are very important for the successful completion of the course. The
information presented in discussions and lectures will augment the material in the reading
assignments. Before coming to class, students will be expected to read the assigned chapters in
The Course of Mexican History and/or the assigned online articles.
Participation Assignments 100 points
Part of the participation grade consists of answering questions on the films and readings we
discuss in class. There are 5 assignments (100 pts). Each short-answer response is worth 20
points. It must be a 2 page minimum in length, typed, 12-size font, double-spaced on white
paper. If you use secondary sources you must cite your sources according to the Chicago
format. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source. You will be turning in a hardcopy to me and
also submitting your paper to turnitin.com. The instructions will be on the class website
professormgvaladez.com. Follow the participation assignment rubric, which is online. There
are no make-ups due to unexcused absences.
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Five Quizzes 50 points: Five quizzes will be given at any time during the week. Each is worth
10 points. Questions will focus on the lectures, readings, and films. There are no make-ups
for quizzes due to unexcused absences.
Two Examinations 100 points: The examinations will consists of a combination of the
following true-false, multiple choice, chronology, short answers, geography, essay questions
and matching questions. No make-up exams will be given unless the absence was due to
extenuating circumstances such as a serious illness or an unavoidable accident. Proof of an
extenuating circumstance from a third party, such as police report or doctor’s note, must be
presented to the instructor to clear any unexcused absences. The make-up exam will most
likely be a writing exam, where you will be given two essay questions.
One Primary Source Analysis 50 points: The essay is to be typed, 4-5 pages in length, size
12 font, double-spaced, and turned in on the due date. The essay requires that you consult
secondary sources (Wikipedia is not an acceptable source). All papers must be stapled. You
will lose 5 points if you turn in unstapled papers. A works cited page and an introductory
paragraph are due October 21. The primary source analysis paper is due November 6. Late
papers will not be accepted. You must cite your secondary source according to the Chicago
format. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source. You will be turning in a hardcopy to me and
also submitting your paper to turnitin.com. The instructions and the primary sources will be on
the class website professormgvaladez.com. We will discuss this in more details in the coming
weeks.
Final Examination 100 points: The final examination is cumulative. It will consist of a
combination of the following true-false, multiple-choice, chronology, short answers,
identifying geography, matching questions, and essay questions.
Extra Credit: There will be some extra credit opportunities. The instructions for theses
assignments are online. A two-page summary on a visit to a museum, film, or on a book may
be turned in for 5 points. Also, you will need to submit a ticket stub to receive full credit. In
addition, you may do a media summary on an event that is related to the history of Mexico.
You have to submit the original article for media summaries. Six extra credit assignments are
the maximum number that can be submitted. There is a list of recommended film. In addition,
students may do a four- page genealogical paper. The instructions are on the class website. To
receive full credit you need to consult with me before you begin any assignment. If you
submit extra credit assignments without discussing them with me first, you will not receive full
credit, particularly on the family history paper. I strongly recommend seeing the PreColumbian room in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Lastly, if you enroll in Service
Learning you can earn 50 points. Come see me for the details. December 5 is the last day to
turn in any extra credit assignments.
Grading
Final grades will be calculated on a point (400) and percentage basis.
Maximum Points 400
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Assignments:
Points
Attendance &
Participation 100
Quizzes
50
Exam 1
50
Exam 2
50
Paper
50
Final
100
Your Score
Grading Scale
100%-90% 400-360
89%-80% 359-320
79%-70% 319-280
69%-60% 279-240
59%-0% 239-0
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
Grades will be posted online: engrade.com
Please keep track of your grade during the semester. If there are any problems come see me
immediately or send me an email.
Academic Dishonesty
Students are expected to exhibit honesty in all aspects of the learning process. Plagiarism is a
student’s failure to distinguish his or her own words and ideas from those of a source consulted
by the student. Whenever exact words are used, quotation marks or an indented block indicator
of a quotation must be used. Academic dishonesty, such as copying or using unauthorized aids
on examinations, and plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not your own work, will
result an automatic F on the assignment and may be subjected to disciplinary action (Board
Rule 9803.12 states, "dishonesty, such as cheating, or knowingly furnishing false information
to the Colleges" shall be subject to disciplinary action).
Disclaimer
Students in this class may be subjected to material which the student may find offensive. These
may include visual or text representations from the following areas:
Sex
Profane language
Religious theories
Economic theories
Important Dates
Last day to drop full-term classes to receive refund or without paying fee September 14, 2014
Last day to drop a regular full-term class without receiving a “W” September 14, 2014 (online)
Last day to drop a full-term classes with a “W” November 23, 2014 (online)
Class Schedule: (subject to change)
Readings are online: http://www.professormgvaladez.com/
Week 1
Sept. 2
Introduction to History 19
Sept. 4
Overview of Mexico’s Geography, Population, and Society
Film: Hecho en México
Rodriguez, “Where did Mexicans come from?” (online: class website)
Week 2
Sept.9
Introduction to Mesoamerica: Ancient Origins to the Olmec Culture
Maugh, “Writing on Olmec Slab is Hemisphere’s Oldest” (online)
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Sept.11
Week 3
Sept.16
Sept.18
The Course of Mexican History chapter 1
The Classic Period: Teotihuacan to the Mayans
The Course of Mexican History chapter 2
The Post-Classic Period: Toltecs to the Aztecs
The Course of Mexican History chapters 3 & Film: The Aztecs
Aztec Society & Medieval Spanish Society to 1521 Participation 1 Due
Nader, “The Spain that Encountered Mexico” (online)
The Course of Mexican History chapters 4-5
Week 4
Sept.23 Exam I Pre-Hispanic Mexico (50 points)
Sept.25 The Encounter & the Fall of Tenochtitlan
The Course of Mexican History chapter 6 & 7
Film: The Other Conquest
Week 5
Sept.30 New Spain 1521: Colonial Administration, Economy, & Church
The Course of Mexican History chapters 8,9, 10
Oct.2
Race, Class, and Gender in New Spain
The Course of Mexican History chapters 11, 12
Gates, “The Black Grandma in the Closet” Black in Latin America
(online)
Week 6
Oct.7
Women in Colonial Period & Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Participation 2 Due
The Course of Mexican History chapter 11, p. 167-177
Film: I, the Worst of All
Oct.9
Colonial Spain under the Bourbons 1700-1810
The Course of Mexican History chapters 13 & 14
Week 7
Oct.14 War of Independence: 1810 Hidalgo’s Social Revolution
The Course of Mexican History chapter 15
Film: Hidalgo: La Historia Jamás Contada
Oct.16 The First Mexican Empire 1822 to the Age of Santa Ana Participation 3 Due
The Course of Mexican History chapters 16, 17 & 18 p. 249-255
Week 8
Oct.21 The Texas Revolution 1836 & the Mexican-American War 1846-1848
Works Cited & Intro Paragraph DUE
The Course of Mexican History chapters 18 & 19
Film: The Mexican-American War
Oct.23 Exam II ( New Spain 1521 to Post-War Mexico 1850)
Week 9
Oct.28 War of the Reform and French Intervention
The Course of Mexican History chapter 20
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Oct.30
Juarez and the Modern Republic
The Course of Mexican History chapters 21 & 22
Week 10
Nov.4 The Porfiriato: Order and Progress
The Course of Mexican History chapters 23,24, 25
Nov.6 Challenges to the Diaz Regime: Madero & Labor Unrests Primary Source Paper DUE
The Course of Mexican History chapters 26 & 27
Week 11
Nov.11
Veteran’s Day Holiday
Nov.13
The Mexican Revolution 1910
The Course of Mexican History chapters 28, 29, 30
Film: Pancho Villa: Outlaw Hero
Week 12
Nov.18 Obregon 1920 to Calles 1934 Participation 4 Due
The Course of Mexican History chapters 31 & 32
Nov.20 Mexico under Cardenas 1930s & the Nationalization of the Oil Companies
The Course of Mexican History chapters 33 & 34
Week 13
Nov.25
World War II to the Massacre of Tlatelolco 1968
The Course of Mexican History chapters 35 & 36
Film: Mexico: The Frozen Revolution
Nov.27
Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 14
Dec.2 Oil, Crisis, NAFTA, & the Zapatistas
The Course of Mexican History chapters 37 & 38 Film: Zapatista
Dec.4
Fox, the Election of 2000, & The Fall of the PRI Last Day for EC
The Course of Mexican History chapters 38 & 39
"Mexico's Fox Creates Stir by Flying Virgin Banner." (online)
Smith, James F., and Mary Beth Sheridan. "An End to the PRI Era -- and a
Way of Life." (online)
Week 15
Dec. 9 Calderon & the Drug War Participation 5 Due
Mexico, Before and After Calderon's drug war (online)
Dec.11 The Return of the PRI 2012
Mexico's Enrique Peña Nieto Assumes Presidency Amid Protests (online)
With 'El Chapo' Gone, Mexicans Brace for Drug Cartel Turf War (online)
Drug War No More (online)
Week 16 Finals Week Dec.18
Final Exam Thursday, 1:00-3:00pm
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