LATIN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS – RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE ASSIGNMENT
Background :
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies of North, Central and
South America and the Caribbean experienced wars of independence that resulted in their political independence from their European mother countries. These wars for independence began after the American & French Revolutions successfully overthrew the monarchy. By the middle of the 19th century, virtually all of Mexico, Central and South
America was free from European control. Haiti, a French slave colony, was the first “New World” colony to follow the
North Americans to independence.
The causes of these revolts are numerous and complex. However, there were several long term and immediate factors that instigated (caused) these events throughout all the colonies. These general factors have been identified and discussed in class. Despite the many reasons for discontent, Spanish colonists found their opportunity (“dramatic act”) for rebellion when Napoleon invaded and conquered Spain – turmoil in the European “motherland” provided the perfect excuse to revolt without being accused of treason. Even though the specific events of each nation’s revolution were a direct result of its particular circumstances, these broad factors were universal to all Latin American movements for independence / rebellions. When the Congress of Vienna restored the “legitimate” monarchs in 1815, the King of Spain expected the Latin American colonies to “come back to the fold” of Spanish rule. The colonies refused to do so, and continued fighting for independence. By 1825, most of Latin America was independent from Spain.
Essential Research Question :
To what extent was Latin America able to successfully implement the Enlightenment or revolutionary goals it set out to establish (at independence) by the end of the 19 th century (1899 / 1900)? To what extent was
Latin America able to change its legacy of colonialism by the end of the 19 th century?
Task:
Write a Research Paper Outline that coherently and cohesively answers the Essential Research Question listed above.
Factual Questions to investigate: these research questions will help you to gain a full understanding of and answer to the research task
1.
Why did the people of Latin America want to break away from Spain? (Why were they unhappy with the social, political and/or economic patterns of colonialism?)
2.
In general, how did the Latin American nations achieve independence?
3.
Once independence was achieved, were the problems of colonialism solved? Why or why not? Did new conflicts emerge? (What happens in Latin America politically, economically and socially?)
4.
By the end of the 19 th
century (1899), what are the political, economic and social trends in Latin
America? What does this say about the success of the independence movements?
You must answer these questions in order to fully address the Essential Research Question
You will receive 3 secondary sources, in addition to the textbook. You must take notes from each of these sources, using the Research sheet provided.
DEADLINES:
1.
RESEARCH SHEETS, AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY –
DUE: Wed., Dec. 2 (afternoon class); Thurs., Dec. 3 (morning class) – 50 points
2.
INTRODUCTION with PRELIMINARY THESIS / TOPIC SENTENCE OUTLINE /
CONCLUSION with in-text citations -- 50 POINTS

DUE: __Mon., Dec. 21 on turnitin.com – 50 points
3.
RE-WRITE OF THE INTRODUCTION / THESIS / TOPIC SENTENCE OUTLINE /
CONCLUSION with in-text citations
– 100 PTS
.
DUE: Tues., Jan. 12, 2016
GUIDELINES / REQUIREMENTS :
• min. of 2 pages, not including the Annotated Bibliography
•
Times New Roman font. Size 10, 11 OR 12. 1 inch margins. 1.5 spaced.
• No title page, but Title on the Top of the first page. Name at the beginning of the paper.
•
Research: For this assignment, the research is provided for you.
You must submit Annotations for each of your sources . Your Annotated Bibliography should follow proper format requirements (check Library website or handout). The annotations should be written in short paragraph form and should address the following questions:
•
How did I find this source? “It was provided by Ms. Valentin.”
• For what research questions was the source useful?
•
How did the information help in my analysis / research task?
•
The annotation should be no less than 3 sentences.
You must provide in-text citations in your introduction, topic sentence outline and the Final Re-Write
The in-text citations will come from your research sheets for the research I provided.
CONTINUE ON TO NEXT PAGE – PLEASE MAKE SURE TO PRINT SEVERAL RESEARCH SHEETS
AND HAVE THEM WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME TO THE LIBRARY. Use the Research Sheet provided.
Please note that these Research Notes are the “note cards” for this research paper assignment.

RESEARCH SHEET
RESEARCH QUESTION :
SOURCE: PRIMARY / SECONDARY (Circle One) PRINT / DIGITAL (Circle One)
Citation:
ANNOTATION:
How did I find this source? What type of information does it provide? How did it help me in writing my paper (what did it help me to understand?)
NOTES FROM SOURCE: PAGES: _______________
SUMMARY: MAIN IDEA OF NOTES/INFORMATION
ANALYSIS: EXPLAIN IN YOUR OWN WORDS HOW THIS INFORMATION ANSWERS THE RESEARCH QUESTION AND HOW IT
HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND AND ANSWER THE CENTRAL RESEARCH QUESTION