Back to Hist 353 Home page
Back to Hist 353 Lecture Index page

THIS IS A TAKE-HOME EXAM! -  The two essays for the exam are due at the start of class, Thursday, November 15.

TOPIC AREAS: This exam will cover everything from Independence to the end of the Lazaro Cardenas era (1946). (Cardenas's presidency ended in 1940 - however, he remained powerful through the Camacho administration of 1940-46.)

BOOK CHAPTERS: These topics are covered in chapters 14-40.

LECTURE NOTES: The lectures covered include:

• Revolt from Below, Reaction from Above: Hidalgo and Iturbide
• Struggle for Identity: The Age of Santa Anna and the War of Northern Aggression
• La Reforma: Benito Juarez and the Triumph of Liberalism
• Bread or the Club: The Porfiriato (1876-1910)
  • Pofirian Philosophy - Mexican Positivism
  • Legacy and Enemies of the Porfirian Order
• One Revolution, Many Revolutions: Madero, Zapata, Villa, Carranza, Etc......
• The New Order: The Sonoran Dynasty
• Education in the Mexican Revolution: Vasconselos and the New Mexican
• A New Revolution: Cardenas and the Re-Emergence of the Populists

STRUCTURE OF THE EXAM: The exam will have two essays. The required essay (Part I) will be worth 65%, the essay you choose from Part II will be worth 35%.

• Doing the Essay Questions: In doing an essay, there are certain things you should remember. A good essay will first of all answer the question. Make sure you do address all parts of the question. A good essay is both specific and general: specific in its examples, general in its use of major themes. Finally, a good essay has a definite structure: an introduction, a body with an organization and argument, and a conclusion. So, in doing your essay, you should:
  • 1) State you main ideas clearly.
  • 2) Give your essay structure. I'd suggest preparing an outline as you study.
  • 3) Give specific examples to back up your main ideas.

• Given the definition of "revolution" discussed in class (see the lecture One Revolution, Many Revolutions), to what extent did Mexico have a revolution in the period 1910-1946?

Part II - Choose an Essay: You must do one (1) of the following. 35 points.

• Why did the Mexicans lose the Mexican-American War? This is meant to be an essay of modest length, so you do not need to go into deep detail, but only discuss the major issues.
• How did the rule of Porfirio Diaz lead to the Mexican Revolution?
• What was the Liberal political agenda, and what was its impact on Mexico?
• What led to Mexican independence? Be sure to note the different political/social forces involved.
• What was the impact of independence? Be sure to consider political, economic, and social factors.