EXAM STRUCTURE: This exam is comprehensive, and has a single essay. Please read the essay question and ALL of the instructions that follow it.  This essay should reflect both the lectures and the textbook. You may also make use of what you learned from your current events project. The essay should be of a sufficient length to give a full response.  In other words, don't turn in a couple of hastily slapped-together pages and expect a good grade.

Essay Question:

• Identify three factors in Mexican history you believe have been critical in its development. Show why they are important, explaining the impact they have had on Mexican development. AT LEAST ONE of these factors must be from the period after the age of Cardenas (See the note entitled "Non-Comprehensive Portion" below). Note: "Factors" can be almost anything - people, economic issues, racial groups, wars, political movements, religious themes, etc. You may use sources other than the lectures and textbook if you choose, but please cite your sources (including the textbook - I don't have it memorized.) By citation, I mean reference to page numbers and all information I would need to be able to find the material you used - no plagiarism will be tolerated.

NON-COMPREHENSIVE SECTION: One of your three factors must be from the period after Cardenas, the period we have discussed since the last exam. Please note that for this portion of the exam, I am willing to accept discussion of recent events that you think may be critical for the future development of Mexico, but which, because they are so recent, have only had a small impact so far. You will still have to explain why you think they will be important. Below you will find a list of chapters and lectures that cover this period.

• BOOK CHAPTERS: The non-comprehensive portion of the exam is covered in section 10, chapters 40-45..
• LECTURE NOTES: The lectures for the non-comprehensive portion of the test include:
  • The Frozen Revolution: Mexico from Mid-Century to the Present
  • Mexico Divided: NAFTA and the Zapatista Revolt
  • Culture and Economics of the Border
  • Greater Mexico: Mexicans in the United States and the World of the Borderlands
  • Aspects of the Drug Trade in Mexico (Updated version now available.)
  • Struggles With Urbanization: The Explosive Growth of Mexico City

     

This is exam is due at my office by 4:00 pm, Tuesday, December 18th. Please present this paper earlier if at all possible.