Reflection | Social Studies Code of Ethics

Upon reading the “Revised Code of Ethics for the Social Studies Profession”, I am able to reflect on the professional responsibilities inherent in the role of social studies instructor. There are six principles roughly summed up as Principle One: safeguarding levels of sophistication and maintaining high standards; Principle Two: fostering a commitment to democratic values; …

Central America | Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed at the end of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). War had broken out between the United States and Mexico after the former annexed the state of Texas. In reality, however, United States foreign policy was driven by the concept of “Manifest Destiny”; that Americans were destined by God to …

Central America | Aztec Preconquest Omens

Sources from the period of Aztec conquest include the Florentine Codex by Fray Bernardino de Sahagún. His codex was informed by associates from Nahua communities; their texts provide the written accounts of Sahagún. These accounts speak of the series of bad omens experienced by the Nahua in the years preceding the Spanish conquest; eight omens …

Caribbean | Poster of Ortega, Bishop & Castro

A poster was commissioned by the Cuban government in 1980 depicting three Caribbean leaders: Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Maurice Bishop of Grenada, and Fidel Castro of Cuba. Each had risen to power through revolution and governed on Marxist-Leninst principles; each had drawn the ire of the United States during the Cold War.  The three men …

Caribbean | Castro Telegram to Sandinistas

In July 1980, Cuban president Fidel Castro sent a telegram to the government of Nicaragua. He was congratulating the Sandinista party on the one year anniversary of their revolution against the Somoza dictatorship. The telegram was obtained by the United States governments and declassified after it was examined by the U.S. State Department. With the …

Central America | Spanish Reconquista & Iberian Unification

Module 2.b looks at the evolution of the Iberian states before the conquest of the Americas in 1492. Topics like the Reconquista, Iberian unification, and monarchical-based society are explored. The relationship between Spanish Catholicism and Jewish Iberians is also covered under the Inquisition and subsequent Alhambra Decree.  Following the fall of the Roman empire in …

Central America | Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica

Module 2.a explored the pre-Columbian cultural foundations of Mesoamerican societies. The Aztecs and Mayans were of particular focus, with some insight into Caribbean societies. Cultural elements such as societies’ relationships with nature, each other, and religion were common topics across the provided resources; contemporary accounts from indigenous and Spanish writers provided insight to these topics.  …

Book Review | Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest is a book by historian Matthew Restall, exploring misconceptions of the Spanish Conquest that have seeped into the popular consciousness. Restall is a professor of Latin American History, Women’s Studies, and Anthropology at Pennsylvania State University, as well as the Director of Latin American Studies. He has published over …

Central America | 21st Century Mexican Politics

Module 6.a looks at contemporary politics in Mexico. The article “What's at Stake in Mexico's 2022 Gubernatorial Elections?” discusses the upcoming gubernatorial elections in several Mexican states. Based on previous class modules, there are current political threads that can be traced through 20th century Mexican history. Today’s parties, coalitions, and voting patterns are easier to …

Caribbean | Legacy of Fidel Castro

Module 5.c explores the importance of sports in Caribbean life as well as Fidel Castro’s role in Cuban history. Migration in and out of the region is also covered, especially pertaining to the United States. The U.S. continues to factor heavily in the history of Cuba, following the 1959 Cuban Revolution.  In the early 20th …