Latin American History Commons^™

The Mothers Of The Plaza De Mayo Of Argentina: An Unconventional Success Story, Logan Johansen

Undergraduate Research Journal

In 1976, a military junta overthrew Isabelita Peron from power in Argentina. Shortly after, it began to kidnap, torture, and murder thousands of political enemies and dissidents – many of whom were college students or other educated people. These victims, often called “the disappeared” or desaparecidos, were drugged and thrown out of airplanes and were never seen again. Many of their mothers, desperate for answers, united and formed the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo group and began protesting publicly. This paper argues that despite never receiving official answers from the junta nor from the succeeding Argentine government, these powerful …

A Peculiar Institution: What Brought African Slavery To The Spanish Colonial World And How Did It Evolve?, Paige Langley

Undergraduate Research Journal

Slavery was a bedrock component in the development of the New World. While slavery did not begin in the Western Hemisphere, it most definitely grew, developed, and evolved within it. Before the Spanish set out to colonize the New World, they had already been participating in the practice of slavery, particularly race-based slavery. Upon discovering and colonizing the West, the Spanish may have viewed the initial source of unfree labor as those indigenous populations of the areas they conquered. However, the expansion of Atlantic trade and the precious commodity of African slaves would soon be introduced to the Spanish colonial …

The Brazilian Bandeirantes: Heroes Or Villains?, Mitchell Robey

Undergraduate Research Journal

The early history and exploration of the Americas are riddled with names such as “Frontiersman,” “Pioneer,” and “Coureur de bois”. Yet, a commonly unrecognized name is that of the Brazilian Bandeirante. The memory of Brazil’s Bandeirantes remains controversial as they not only settled lands, but also gained considerable wealth and power from capturing new and escaped slaves. Additionally, unlike their North American counterparts, Bandeirantes hailed from an assortment of occupations, with “explorer” not being one of them. Bandeirantes were those individuals who turned to the unexplored heartland of Brazil as they grew tired of the marauding pirates found along …

Día De (Los) Muertos - The Revered Mexican Holiday Of Death, Logan Johansen

Undergraduate Research Journal

In recent years, Americans have become enthralled with what many might refer to as Mexican Halloween. Notably, the Disney film Coco in 2017 portrayed a fantastical interpretation of the holiday, combining music and a wholesome story typical of the company’s many animated films. Although the celebration falls just after October 31st, the traditional holiday is not an imitation of the Americanized All Hallows’ Eve. Yes, there are costumes, candy, and lots of partying, but the purpose and intent of the holiday is entirely different. With rapidly growing popularity in the United States and even across the world, it is important …

Lending A Helping Hand: Dollar Diplomacy In Latin America, Rachel Hollenbeck

Undergraduate Research Journal

“Lending a Helping Hand: Dollar Diplomacy in Latin America” examines Dollar Diplomacy as a U.S. foreign policy during the Taft Administration, including the context and previous policies related to Dollar Diplomacy and the success and breakdown of Dollar Diplomacy in Latin America. An explanation of Dollar Diplomacy and the reasons behind implementing the policy are also a part of this study. This paper reveals an aspect of U.S. and Latin American relations that still affects foreign affairs today. While the intentions in creating Dollar Diplomacy were a mixture of good and bad and the hopes for a successful and profitable …

Free And Not So Much: Black Slavery In The Spanish Colonial World, Taylor Ritz

Undergraduate Research Journal

Although started by the Portuguese and used widely in Brazil, the slave trade and the use of slaves were quickly adopted by the Spanish in the Western World.1 Not much is known about the black slavery that happened in Latin America or how it was different from the common idea of slavery in the United States. This paper’s objective is to open the reader’s eyes and inform them about what black slavery was like in colonial Spanish America.

In theory, it was assumed that slavery in the southern United States had the same principles, and was the same, as Latin …

Women’S Involvement In The Sandinistas And The Farc, Derek Comba

Undergraduate Research Journal

Historically, women have been constantly excluded from combat in war except in times of dire need. Even today women are not allowed in the overwhelming majority of armies from around the world, and the ones that do allow women do not allow them on the front lines. Women have always been seen as not capable of war or as not needing to fight since the men can fight for them. Yet, time and time again it appears that guerrilla, insurgent, and terrorist groups have let women into their ranks. While large numbers of women fought in both the Sandinista National …

The Indigenous In Peruvian National Identity, Danielle Bartels

Undergraduate Research Journal

Indigenous peoples populate countries across the globe. In every country, issues of the national identity of the indigenous are important. With the aid of case studies, we can better comprehend the depth of these problems. Focusing on the intellectual history in a case study of Peru, I aim to understand the antagonistic behaviors against indigenous cultures and how the nation state chose to handle their indigenous population over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.