Module Identifier |
GG26010 |
Module Title |
THE AMERICAS |
Academic Year |
2003/2004 |
Co-ordinator |
Dr Deborah P Dixon |
Semester |
Semester 2 |
Other staff |
Dr Luke C Desforges, Professor Timothy J Cresswell |
Course delivery |
Lecture | 20 Hours 10 x 2 hours |
Assessment |
Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
Semester Exam | 2 Hours Seen examination - answer two questions from four. | 100% |
Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Resit examination in same format. | 100% |
|
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will have gained an appreciation of:-
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the diversity of social formations in the Americas
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the legacy provided by both colonialism and independence in the Americas
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key moments in the development of select American states
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key contemporary issues and concerns across the Americas.
Students will be able to:
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refer to and evaluate a range of interdisiplinary literature on the history of the Americas as well as particular case studies
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demonstrate an awareness of the practical role played by Geographers in the development of the Americas
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further develop their own critical thought, writing and presentation skills.
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the varied social, economic, and cultural landscapes of the Americas.
Content
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the varied social, economic, and cultural landscapes of the Americas. Focusing on several key themes, such as colonization and independence, nation building and modernization, the course will emphasize how and why diverse forms of government have attempted to 'shape' New World social formations, as well as the aims and ideals of select groups who have worked to produce alternate visions of society. In-depth case studies ranging from the making of the American West to the Cuban revolution, and from the civil rights movement to the rise of Aryan patriot groups will be used to draw out these themes. Students will read both theoretical works and empirical studies of particular peoples and places, and will explore how people and place have been represented in maps as well as diverse written texts. Themes:
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Colonial Encounters
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Independence in the New World and its Legacy
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Modernization and Development in the US
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Modernization and Development in Central and South America
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Imagining America
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Nation Building and Cultural Marginalization
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Socialism and its Variations across the Americas
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Race: From Civil Rights to Patriotism
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New Social Movements
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Conclusions and Revision
Reading Lists
Books
** Essential Reading
Radcliffe, Sarah (1993) Viva: Women and popular Protest in Latin America.
London: Routledge. Classmark: JC311.R1
Cronon, William, Miles, George and Gitlin,Jay (eds) (1992) Under an Open Sky: Rethinking America's Western Past.
Norton. Classmark: F591.U5
Jackson, John Brinckerhoff (1994) A Sense of Place, A Sense of Time.
New Haven and London: Yale University Press. Classmark: GF90.I6
Kay, Cristobal (1989) Latin American Theories of Development and Underdevelopment.
London: Routledge.
Nelson Limerick, Patricia (1987) The Legacy of Conquest.
Norton. Classmark: F591.T7
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5