Author: ERIC MARTINEZVALERIO

Posted on by ERIC MARTINEZVALERIO Final Timeline Project

Mexico During The 20th Century

Works Cited

Bandera De Mexico

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Mexico

“Francisco Madero with his Rebel leaders”

Francisco Madero with his rebel leaders. April 24. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2002709900/>.

Mexican Revolution: Soldiers marching on and Horseback

Mexican Revolution: Soldiers marching and on horseback. [United states: publisher not identified, between 1911 and 1914] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2002718464/>.

Street view in Mexico City during the “Tragic Ten Days” of the revolution against the Madero government. 

Street view in Mexico City during the “Tragic Ten Days” of the revolution against the Madero government. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/93506450/>.

Zimmermann Telegram as Received by the German Ambassador to Mexico

Zimmermann Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/82A (1910-1929), and Decoded Zimmermann Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/69, General Records of the Department of State; Record Group 59; National Archives

Speech to the Nation

“Document #7: ‘Speech to the Nation,’ Lázaro Cárdenas (1938).” Modern Latin America, https://library.brown.edu/create/modernlatinamerica/chapters/chapter-3-mexico/primary-documents-with-accompanying-discussion-questions/document-7-nationalization-of-oil-lazaro-cardenas-1938/.

Tlatelolco Massacre 

https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB10/nsaebb10.htm

Paz Octavio. Education and the Mexican Revolution. In Problems in Modern Latin America: Sources and Interpretations, 5th edition, edited by James A. Wood and Anna Rose Alexander, 164. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019.

Olcott Jocelyn. Cardenismo and Women’s Organizing. In Problems in Modern Latin America: Sources and Interpretations, 5th edition, edited by James A. Wood and Anna Rose Alexander, 199-200. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019.

Marcos Subcomandante. Humanity Against Neoliberalism. In Problems in Modern Latin America: Sources and Interpretations, 5th edition, edited by James A. Wood and Anna Rose Alexander, 280. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019.

Dawson, Alexander. Latin America since Independence: A History with Primary Sources. 3rd ed. New York: Routledge, 2022.

Posted on by ERIC MARTINEZVALERIO Timeline pilot project

Mexico During The 20th Century

Works Cited

Dawson, A. (2022). Latin America since Independence: A History with Primary Sources (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/10.4324/9781003146094

Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations, edited by James A. Wood, and Anna Rose Alexander, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/baruch/detail.action?docID=5743856.

Posted on by ERIC MARTINEZVALERIO Module 4 assignment: Latin America in the media

Latin American Immigration coming to American Metropolisses once more

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/migrant-buses-southern-border-new-york-city-60-minutes-2022-11-06

The article “Migrants bused from the southern border to New York City enter a backlogged and broken asylum system” essentially encompasses the harsh realities that many new migrants are facing now that they are in the United States. Recent immigrants from Central and South America who are coming into the United States are being automatically sent to cities such as Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York. This is a result of other states such as Texas and Arizona having dealt with the brunt of immigration due to their correspondence with the border. States such as New York have not prepared for something like this and Mayor Eric Adams has declared a state of emergency in light of these unexpected events. This article asks newly entered migrants about their experiences and what the unfortunate reality will be for most of these immigrants coming into the United States. This is not something that will change overnight and will take the better part of a couple of years before any substantial change can be seen. 

Concentrating specifically on Venezuela, many migrants had no choice but to leave their home country in hopes of better opportunities elsewhere. President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro has been a key factor in all of this as his repressive regime has only brought out constant social and economic turmoil. Currently, local Venezuelans under this regime see their country as one that attempts to take away their basic freedoms. As Cooper reports the main reason many are fleeing from Venezuela and coming to the United States is due to “poverty, violence, and authoritarian rule” and this can be compared to other authoritarian leaders in South and Central America (Cooper, 2022).  

When comparing this to other discussions had throughout the course one can draw parallels to other authoritarian leaders who have tried to systematically oppress their citizens and thus force them to migrate to other countries such as the United States. For example, Dawson illustrates how Humberto Romeros’ victory in the 1977 Salvadoran presidential elections only brought about a similar way of life toward its citizens and forced migration to other countries. His victory brought about “spawned protests” which resulted in deaths ranging from “200 and 1500” (Dawson, 266). In addition to this, Dawson also mentions how the economic opportunity was dwindling as the years progressed as “inequality had increased since the 1960s” and that “landlessness was increasing” (Dawson, 266). While stating that landlessness has increased from 40% to 65%, Salvadorian citizens needed to realize that they needed to seek better living conditions elsewhere. As a result of all this political and economic turmoil, “a million Salvadorians…fled their country, 800,000 of whom made their way to the United States” (Dawson, 275). 

Despite this having occurred well over 40 years ago, parallels can be drawn from those events in El Salvador in 1977 and now with the contemporary events going on related to Venezuela which is also forcing migrants to leave their homes and come to the United States in hope of better opportunities. The importance that media has as an outlet certainly benefits those who are unaware as to what is going on as it allows them to be informed on what is happening not just in the United States but elsewhere such as Latin America.

Works Cited 

Dawson, Alexander S. Latin America since Independence a History with Primary Sources, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, New York, 2022.

“Migrants Bused from Southern Border to New York City Enter a Backlogged and Broken Asylum System.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/migrant-buses-southern-border-new-york-city-60-minutes-2022-11-06.

Posted on by ERIC MARTINEZVALERIO Module 3 assignment - Latin America in the Cold War

United States Intervention in the Chilean Elections of 1964

The telegram presented illustrates CIA support towards Eduardo Frei in the 1964 elections in Chile. The United States provides a one million dollar subsidy for the Frei campaign as political action towards the defeat of Salvador Allende. The goal of this US campaign in Chile was to provide Frei with the support necessary within Chile from other democratic pirates in order to ensure victory against Allende.  

World relations soon started to become critical during the events of the Cold War as the United States saw it best fit that the spread of communism did not slowly take over Latin America. This came down to the premise that the United States believed that many Latin American countries “Showed signs of instability and weaknesses” and because of this notion that they were displaying that it would create an opening for communist forces and would allow them to be able to exploit them and eventually have influence over them (Wood and Alexander, 244). The events of the Chilean elections of 1964 demonstrate the United States’ intervention to secure democratic runner Eduardo Frei’s position over opponent socialist Salvador Allende. 

The CIA plays an integral part during the elections as various forms of propaganda are on display which ranged from print advertisements to radio and news programs. The propaganda had one main objective which was meant to showcase what life would be like for Chilean citizens if they were to vote for Salvador Allende. They would paint images in the heads of Chilean citizens that in voting for Allende one would eventually have to adhere to a communist way of life. They constructed that a communist society would also remove gender constructs that Chile had built and that voting for Frei it would maintain what Chile had built (Wood and Alexander, 250). So one can see that the United States uses nationalism as a form of swaying Chilean citizens to vote for Frei. In addition to the propaganda made in support of Frei, there was also an equal amount of propaganda in favor of demonstrating how frightening rule under Allende could be. 

Despite the propaganda demonstrating how voting for Allende would lead to a communist way of life for those under chile, it did not seem to show how voting for Frei would lead to better living conditions. For the Chilean citizens, since both men and women could vote there were campaigns that targeted them individually to ensure maximum sway in favor of the democratic party which is important to note and does not simply go target males to vote for Frei. Women had as much of a say in the political campaigns and having their vote would be just as crucial in this election. 

It is evident that even though the United States was mitigating the spread of communism against the Soviet Union they were also vigilant toward Latin American countries ensuring that communist influence did not take over. In viewing this, it is apparent that if a Latin American leader was not an ally to the United States in this case Allende, they would be met with constant opposition to solidify their removal from power. To conclude Latin American leaders were limited in what they could do as they were either seen as an asset or a liability to the United States’ interest during the Cold war. 

Primary Source

https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/news/20040925/docs.htm

Works Cited

Wood, James A., and Anna Rose Alexander. “The Cold War.” Chapter. In Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2019.

Posted on by ERIC MARTINEZVALERIO Module 2 assignment - Visual sources of late 19th-century or early 20th-century Latin America

Argentina National Congress Building In Buenos Aires

The image selected is a municipal building, this building in question is the Argentinian National Congress Building in Buenos Aires. The institutionalization of this building demonstrated attempts at modernization towards society, in conjunction, there were coalitions that did not approve of the government’s attempt to modernize the way of life for society. The connotations that follow government are aligned with that of peace, order, and freedoms, but in the late 19th century were far from these ideas. Throughout the century the government has shifted dramatically and has shown growth toward wanting to benefit society.

During the age of the caudillos, the government was run by figures such as Juan Manuel de Rosas who placed restrictions on civil political rights and one can see the use of apparatuses such as the police to control and assert loyalty from all citizens. Failure to do so would often lead to subjection to lashings which were done to place a statement to all that they did not have a choice(Wood 2019, 94). The way of life at the time was more so conducted on the basis of fear as citizens had to ensure they were following parameters or otherwise would have to face punishment which is nowhere near the connotations of peace, order, and freedom. One can see that the government did not stand for the people; rather, the elitists were doing everything to benefit themselves rather than society as a whole.

The Argentinian government made strides in attempting to modernize its medical field during the spread of cholera. It placed priority on providing citizens with doctors and pharmacists who tried to mitigate the spread so one could see this as present-day healthcare for all initiatives established to protect the lives of citizens. Despite this attempt, the government was met with religious opposition as priests had a significant influence and did not believe in what the government was providing its citizens (Dimas 2022, 96). The priests would rely more so on spiritual healing as a form to combat cholera and citizens would believe in priests more. A reason that this was also possible also seemed from the dilemma that because of Argentina’s vast territory it was difficult to govern it entirely without issues such as religious opposition arising. This often leads to internal conflict between Government bodies against the church and little could be done.

As previously mentioned, because Argentina is such a vast territory, government attempts proved to be futile over the nation and this then categorized civilians into two categories. The two divisions mentioned fall between those who live in rural settings and those who are in urban settings. To those who are living in urban settings, one can compare it to those living in contemporary America as they follow government law. Those who are in rural settings do not acknowledge the urbanization of those who are in the city and detest everything the government institutionalizes. Even so, after the fall of the Caudillos government tried to place significance on “Universal rights for all” and the idea of liberalism sparked again, despite this it was still very much flawed. This notion of Universal rights for all was appointed to those who were willing to accept government ordinance (Wood and Alexander 2019, 139).

In comparison to how the government was portrayed at the commencement of the early 19th century, it can be said that it has made progress in terms of serving society and promoting ideas of liberalism. The institutionalization of Government in Argentina has allowed for change to transpire and despite being met with opposition it has allowed new ideas to spread throughout the country such as liberalism and the medical field. Although there is still a need for revision in terms of how to optimally serve society the government body is modernizing in a manner that will allow all citizens to accept the rights provided by the government. 

Works Cited

Wood, James A., and Anna Rose Alexander. “Independence.” Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations, Rowman &amp; Littlefield Publishers, 2019.

Dimas, Carlos S.. Poisoned Eden : Cholera Epidemics, State-Building, and the Problem of Public Health in Tucumán, Argentina, 1865-1908, Nebraska, 2022. ProQuest Ebook

Posted on by ERIC MARTINEZVALERIO Module 1 assignment - Late Colonial and early Independence Latin American sources

Imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Mexico

Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe

The source provided is an image of the La Virgen de Guadalupe which is considered a very prominent figure in Mexico to this day. This importance of the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe dates back to the early 16th century as Dawson notes that a “woven surface image of the Virgin Guadalupe initially appears in 1531”(Dawson 2022, 117). According to Historian Alexander Dawson when Latin Americans rallied to a “flag of rebellion”, Mexicans would follow “the image of the Virgin Of Guadalupe” which gave those who followed the image a sense of “specificity” (Dawson 2022, 15). 

The image of La Virgin de Guadalupe was used as a means of motivation for rebellion by the likes of Father Miguel Hidalgo who is credited to have initiated the “Mexican movement for independence”. The events of Grito de Dolores (“Cry of Dolores”) in September of 1810 were a step in the right direction to signify that Mexico wanted to end Spanish rule on their land. Miguel Hidalgo was later on “executed by a firing squad” and another father would take his role in the struggle for Mexican independence who is known as Father Jose Maria Morelos. 

What is also important to know is the premise that both people who were catalysts for Mexican independence were priests. In the late 18th century the catholic church was considered the “social glue” in the colonies and by this, it meant that they adhered to everything going on regarding the community and other pressing matters that would appear at hand. So when thinking that out of all the community members to see priests taking a step back from being a social glue to them being leaders in change, the fight for independence is quite a turnover of things and interesting to see how it unfolds. Since in Spain the church has a big influence on how things were administered back in the late eighteenth century the change in different parts of the world comes down to external variables. Dawson notes that one factor that led to this change was the introduction of “enlightened thinkers” and their work. As more ideas spread about their way of thinking it was inevitable that their ideologies would clash with those of traditionalists (Dawson 2022, 14).

Thereafter Morelos would continue his mission of obtaining Mexican independence as he would focus on “social equality among Mexicans” which would give him a following to move with his plans (Wood and Rose Alexander 2019, 34). In doing so he also created what is known as “The Sentiments of the Nation ” which are principles for governing the nation as the articles written could be considered as the constitution for the nation. In one of the articles specifically article nineteen, Morelos establishes that “12 December” be “the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe” as she is referred to as the “patron saint of our liberty” and that this day would be commemorated as a holiday (Wood and Alexander 2019, 37). To this day Mexico has great honor and respect toward the image of the La Virgen de Guadalupe and the tradition of celebrating her day on the twelfth of December continues which goes to demonstrate the influence of this image in the country of Mexico from its initial origins in the early sixteenth century

Works Cited

Dawson , Alexander. “Independence Narratives, Past Independence Narratives, 1 Past and Present.” Latin America since Independence , Routledge , New York, NY, 2022.

Wood, James A., and Anna Rose Alexander . “Independence.” Problems in Modern Latin American History : Sources and Interpretations, Rowman &amp; Littlefield Publishers, 2019.

https://jcb.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/JCB~1~1~6789~10580004:Verdadero-Retrato-de-la-milagros-Im?sort=image_date%2Csubject_groups&qvq=q:la%20virgen%20de%20guadalupe;sort:image_date%2Csubject_groups;lc:JCB~1~1&mi=1&trs=4