Problems in Modern Latin American History
Sources and Interpretations
6th Edition
Will be published approx. on 11. December 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-1-5381-9395-2 (ISBN)
Description
Now in its fifth edition, this leading reader has been updated with new readings and visual sources. This edition includes an added final chapter on current social movements to help students reflect on the ecological realities that inform their world. In addition, the "Legacies of Colonialism" chapter has been restored to give students an understanding of the deep roots of the problems explored. Instead of a separate chapter on women and social change, women's voices have been woven more seamlessly throughout the book to reflect women's parity and equity in history.
With its innovative combination of primary and secondary sources and thoughtful editorial analysis, this text is designed specifically to stimulate critical thinking in a wide range of courses on Latin American history since independence.
With its innovative combination of primary and secondary sources and thoughtful editorial analysis, this text is designed specifically to stimulate critical thinking in a wide range of courses on Latin American history since independence.
Reviews / Votes
This impressive new edition continues the tradition of seamlessly blending primary sources with secondary analyses from a variety of leading historians. The diverse new documents, images, and topics in the fifth edition make it an ideal learning tool for today's classroom. Wood and Alexander's concise section introductions orient readers, then invite them to integrate and interrogate multiple perspectives as they form their own evidence-based answers to some of the most pressing questions in the field of modern Latin American history. -- Renata Keller, University of Nevada, Reno This book is the perfect classroom tool for undergraduates and beginning graduate students alike. Each chapter intersperses primary documents with scholarly analyses that provide rich context for the different periods, nations, and themes covered. Scholars of Latin American history, politics, culture, gender, and ethnicity will find this collection to be an excellent resource for guiding students through the past two hundred years in this complex region. -- Michele McArdle Stephens, West Virginia University A compelling, diverse mix of primary sources and scholarly works, this edition of Problems in Modern Latin American History is sure to critically engage and interest students. With its broad coverage of important issues and themes-accompanied by provocative discussion questions-this volume encourages students to actively make critical connections between the past and present in Latin America. James A. Wood and Anna Rose Alexander have masterfully updated a classic, crucial resource for students and teachers of Latin American history. -- Alexander Avina, Arizona State UniversityMore details
Series
Edition
6th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
6 b/w illustrations;1 table
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5381-9395-2 (9781538193952)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
James A. Wood is professor of Latin American history at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro.
Anna Rose Alexander is assistant professor of history at California State University, East Bay.
Anna Rose Alexander is assistant professor of history at California State University, East Bay.
Content
Preface to the Fifth Edition
Chapter I: Legacies of Colonialism
1. Worlds Collide in Tenochtitlan: Camila Townsend
2. Assessing Indian Labor in Quito: Kris Lane
3. Rethinking the Quilombo of Palmares: Stuart B. Schwartz
4. A Priest Reports on Social Conditions in Mexico: Manuel Abad y Queipo
5. The Myth of Completion: Matthew Restall
6. Visual Source: Ordering the Colonized Space
Chapter II: Independence
1. The Political Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy: Cortes of Cadiz
2. War to the Death: Simon Bolivar
3. The Vision of Father Morelos: Enrique Krause
4. What Independence Meant for Women: Sarah C. Chambers
5. Ode to Tropical Agriculture: Andres Bello
6. Tropical Versailles: Kirsten Schultz
Chapter III: Slavery
1. Africans in the American World: John Thornton
2. A Cuban Slave's Testimony: Esteban Montejo
3. A Day on a Coffee Plantation: Stanley J. Stein
4. Africa's Botanical Legacy: Judith Carney and Richard Rosomoff
5. Black Wet Nurses: Robert Edgar Conrad
6. Abolitionism in Brazil: Joaquim Nabuco
7. Visual Source: Homage to Princess Isabel
Chapter IV: Caudillos
1. Caudillos as Scourge: Charles E. Chapman
2. Caudillos as Profit Maximizers: Eric R. Wolf and Edward C. Hansen
3. Caudillos as Protectors of the Indians: Ralph Lee Woodward Jr.
4. Caudillos as Culture Heroes: Ariel de la Fuente
5. The Ribbons and Rituals of Rosismo: Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
6. Mexico in the Age of Caudillos: Frances Calderon de la Barca
7. Visual Source: Contemporary Caudillos?
Chapter V: Liberalism and the Catholic Church
1. A New Generation of Liberals: Frank Safford
2. Liberalism as Anticlericalism: Helen Delpar
3. The Postcolonial Church: John Lynch
4. Good Catholic Reading for Ladies: Carolina Cherniavsky Bozzolo
5. Generational Warrior: Francisco Bilbao
6. The Triumph of Reform: Justo Sierra
Chapter VI: Race and Nation Building
1. Neocolonial Ideologies: E. Bradford Burns
2. Civilization versus Barbarism: Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
3. Torn from the Nest: Clorinda Matto de Turner
4. The Specter of Degeneration: Mart in S. Stabb
5. Brazilianization: Aluisio Azevedo
6. A Raceless Nation: Ada Ferrer
7. Visual Source: Barbershop
Chapter VII: Nationalism
1. Our America: Jose Marti
2. Education and the Mexican Revolution: Octavio Paz
3. Mestizo Pride: Gilbert o Freyre
4. Plan for the Realization of Bolivar's Supreme Dream: Augusto Sandino
5. The Shark and the Sardines: Juan Jose Arevalo
6. Carmen Miranda and Brasilidade: Darien J. Davis
Chapter VIII: Populism
1. The Peronist Political Vision: Daniel James
2. Dona Maria Remembers Peron: Maria Roldan
3. The First Lady's Peronist Feminism: Eva Peron
4. Father of the Poor? Robert M. Levine
5. Cardenismo and Women's Organizing: Jocelyn Olcott
6. Trujillo, the Benefactor: Lauren Derby
Chapter IX: Social Revolution
1. Essence of Guerrilla Warfare: Che Guevara
2. Cuba's Revolutionary Literacy Campaign: Jonathan Kozol
3. Chile's Revolution from Below: Peter Winn
4. The Chilean Road to Socialism: Salvador Allende
5. Christianity and Revolution: Margaret Randall
6. Reflections on Life as a Colombian Revolutionary: Maria Eugenia Vasquez Perdomo
Chapter X: The Cold War
1. Statements of U.S. Foreign Policy Doctrine: Presidents James Monroe, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman
2. The Lesser of Two Evils: David F. Schmitz
3. The 1964 Scare Campaign: Margaret Power
4. Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders: Church Committee
5. A Search and Destroy Operation in El Salvador: Mark Danner
6. The Beliefs behind the Policies: Lars Schoultz
Chapter XI: The Global Economy
1. Neocolonial Economics: Celso Furtado
2. Neoliberalism and Its Prospects: Milton Friedman
3. Global Neoliberalism: William I. Robinson
4. "I Had Sacrificed My Life": Norma Iglesias Prieto
5. Humanity against Neoliberalism: Subcomandante Marcos
6. The New Left and the Global Economy: Steven Levitsky and Kenneth M. Roberts
Chapter XII: Historical Memory
1. Memory, Truth, and Justice: Elizabeth Jelin
2. Opening Chile's Memory Box: Steve J. Stern
3. Human Rights Violations Committed by Government Agents: Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation
4. Testimony of Atrocity: Rigoberta Menchu
5. Analysis of Rigoberta Menchu's Testimonial: David Stoll
6. Memory of Silence: Guatemalan Commission for Historical Clarification
7. Visual Source: Memory Sites
Chapter XIII: Nature and Protest
1. The Death of Ramon Gonzalez: Angus Wright
2. Fight for the Forest: Chico Mendes
3. Capitalism and Self-Destruction: Berta Caceres
4. Blood on Their Hands: Philippa de Boissiere and Sian Cowman
5. Rights of Nature: Ecuadorian Constitution
6. Lead Poisoning: Javier Auyero and Debora Alejandra Swistun
7. Visual Source: "Let Us Wake Up, Humanity. We're Out of Time"
About the Editors
Chapter I: Legacies of Colonialism
1. Worlds Collide in Tenochtitlan: Camila Townsend
2. Assessing Indian Labor in Quito: Kris Lane
3. Rethinking the Quilombo of Palmares: Stuart B. Schwartz
4. A Priest Reports on Social Conditions in Mexico: Manuel Abad y Queipo
5. The Myth of Completion: Matthew Restall
6. Visual Source: Ordering the Colonized Space
Chapter II: Independence
1. The Political Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy: Cortes of Cadiz
2. War to the Death: Simon Bolivar
3. The Vision of Father Morelos: Enrique Krause
4. What Independence Meant for Women: Sarah C. Chambers
5. Ode to Tropical Agriculture: Andres Bello
6. Tropical Versailles: Kirsten Schultz
Chapter III: Slavery
1. Africans in the American World: John Thornton
2. A Cuban Slave's Testimony: Esteban Montejo
3. A Day on a Coffee Plantation: Stanley J. Stein
4. Africa's Botanical Legacy: Judith Carney and Richard Rosomoff
5. Black Wet Nurses: Robert Edgar Conrad
6. Abolitionism in Brazil: Joaquim Nabuco
7. Visual Source: Homage to Princess Isabel
Chapter IV: Caudillos
1. Caudillos as Scourge: Charles E. Chapman
2. Caudillos as Profit Maximizers: Eric R. Wolf and Edward C. Hansen
3. Caudillos as Protectors of the Indians: Ralph Lee Woodward Jr.
4. Caudillos as Culture Heroes: Ariel de la Fuente
5. The Ribbons and Rituals of Rosismo: Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
6. Mexico in the Age of Caudillos: Frances Calderon de la Barca
7. Visual Source: Contemporary Caudillos?
Chapter V: Liberalism and the Catholic Church
1. A New Generation of Liberals: Frank Safford
2. Liberalism as Anticlericalism: Helen Delpar
3. The Postcolonial Church: John Lynch
4. Good Catholic Reading for Ladies: Carolina Cherniavsky Bozzolo
5. Generational Warrior: Francisco Bilbao
6. The Triumph of Reform: Justo Sierra
Chapter VI: Race and Nation Building
1. Neocolonial Ideologies: E. Bradford Burns
2. Civilization versus Barbarism: Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
3. Torn from the Nest: Clorinda Matto de Turner
4. The Specter of Degeneration: Mart in S. Stabb
5. Brazilianization: Aluisio Azevedo
6. A Raceless Nation: Ada Ferrer
7. Visual Source: Barbershop
Chapter VII: Nationalism
1. Our America: Jose Marti
2. Education and the Mexican Revolution: Octavio Paz
3. Mestizo Pride: Gilbert o Freyre
4. Plan for the Realization of Bolivar's Supreme Dream: Augusto Sandino
5. The Shark and the Sardines: Juan Jose Arevalo
6. Carmen Miranda and Brasilidade: Darien J. Davis
Chapter VIII: Populism
1. The Peronist Political Vision: Daniel James
2. Dona Maria Remembers Peron: Maria Roldan
3. The First Lady's Peronist Feminism: Eva Peron
4. Father of the Poor? Robert M. Levine
5. Cardenismo and Women's Organizing: Jocelyn Olcott
6. Trujillo, the Benefactor: Lauren Derby
Chapter IX: Social Revolution
1. Essence of Guerrilla Warfare: Che Guevara
2. Cuba's Revolutionary Literacy Campaign: Jonathan Kozol
3. Chile's Revolution from Below: Peter Winn
4. The Chilean Road to Socialism: Salvador Allende
5. Christianity and Revolution: Margaret Randall
6. Reflections on Life as a Colombian Revolutionary: Maria Eugenia Vasquez Perdomo
Chapter X: The Cold War
1. Statements of U.S. Foreign Policy Doctrine: Presidents James Monroe, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman
2. The Lesser of Two Evils: David F. Schmitz
3. The 1964 Scare Campaign: Margaret Power
4. Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders: Church Committee
5. A Search and Destroy Operation in El Salvador: Mark Danner
6. The Beliefs behind the Policies: Lars Schoultz
Chapter XI: The Global Economy
1. Neocolonial Economics: Celso Furtado
2. Neoliberalism and Its Prospects: Milton Friedman
3. Global Neoliberalism: William I. Robinson
4. "I Had Sacrificed My Life": Norma Iglesias Prieto
5. Humanity against Neoliberalism: Subcomandante Marcos
6. The New Left and the Global Economy: Steven Levitsky and Kenneth M. Roberts
Chapter XII: Historical Memory
1. Memory, Truth, and Justice: Elizabeth Jelin
2. Opening Chile's Memory Box: Steve J. Stern
3. Human Rights Violations Committed by Government Agents: Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation
4. Testimony of Atrocity: Rigoberta Menchu
5. Analysis of Rigoberta Menchu's Testimonial: David Stoll
6. Memory of Silence: Guatemalan Commission for Historical Clarification
7. Visual Source: Memory Sites
Chapter XIII: Nature and Protest
1. The Death of Ramon Gonzalez: Angus Wright
2. Fight for the Forest: Chico Mendes
3. Capitalism and Self-Destruction: Berta Caceres
4. Blood on Their Hands: Philippa de Boissiere and Sian Cowman
5. Rights of Nature: Ecuadorian Constitution
6. Lead Poisoning: Javier Auyero and Debora Alejandra Swistun
7. Visual Source: "Let Us Wake Up, Humanity. We're Out of Time"
About the Editors