From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to discuss the situation leading to the downfall of Fulgencio Batista, the former dictator of Cuba. This paper will show that, while the United States played a role in exploiting the Cuban people, waste within the Cuban economic and social strata, causing the mistrust of the younger generation, also contributed to the causes of the revolution.


The Cuban revolution happened quite quickly. It occurred between January 1, 1959 and the end of 1960--Batista having fled the country on January 1, 1959. The revolution was comparatively bloodless: although a figure of 20,000 often appears for the number killed by Batista between 1956 and 1958--a figure he vigorously refutes.--the deaths on both sides in the civil war may have been as few as 2,000.. There are many experts who..."

Abstract
This paper provides an overview of Eva "Evita" Peron's life. The author discusses how Eva spent her early years in abject poverty and as a misfit in Argentine society. The author also discusses how she, after a school play, decided to become an actress and trekked to Buenos Aires. While Eva struggled as an actress, her numerous lovers provided her with security and would eventually allow her to meet the Juan Peron, the up-and-coming military command who would eventually become president of Argentina. Eva eventually married Peron, and acting as First Lady, held a considerable amount of power, power which she used to benefit the poor and feminist concerns. While often compassionate, she despised (and was despised by) the upper classes and could be harsh toward dissidents. After her death by uterine cancer in 1952 at age 32, the country went into mourning.

Tags:biography, evita, peron

Abstract
This essay will argue, this role was not simply one of "hawk" or "dove". Rather, Robert Kennedy's position - as did the position of many in Washington in those days - moved depending upon what decision appeared to offer the most "room" to negotiate among a group of generally negative options. However, it was in his extra-constitutional role as an "extension" of the President's will that Robert Kennedy played a dominant role in the Cuban Missile Crisis in three respects. His "negotiations" with the Soviets - often unofficial and conducted outside the usual channels of diplomacy - ensured the maintenance of lines of communication between Moscow and Washington in this crucial time.

Abstract
The central thesis of Eduardo Galeano's 1971 work of poetic, economic nonfiction, "Open Veins of Latin America" is that the cash crops and natural resources of Latin America have provided the fundamental tools for the rich nations of North America and Europe to grow richer, at the expense of the poorest of the poor of Latin America. This paper examines the book and shows how Galeano speaks of the colonial powers as "the winners" and Latin America as "the loser" because of its subsequent political instability after colonial economic exploitation.

From the Paper
"At times, Galeano makes great philosophical leaps, and because his analysis is more poetic than statistical, one must as a reader essentially 'go on a ride' with him, and accept some of his sweeping assumptions about the world. However, the ride is ultimately an enriching one. The world cannot sustain itself, if we all remain focused on selfishly profiting our own nations, as was typical during the colonial era. It is no longer sustainable for a national community to focus on enriching itself with greedy policies, because we as a world have come to see that everyone is affected by such an attitude, from our air, water, soil, and the whole of our environments."

Tags:colonialism, oppression, exploitation, Rio, Grande, trade

Abstract
This paper shows the positive and negative effects of the Age of Discovery on the society of the time. The European population largely enjoyed the positive benefits - exposure to new cultures and open trade routes, new goods and advanced technology. The negative impacts were felt by the populations who were "discovered" for the first time by the Europeans.

From the Paper
"Not unlike the way the "race for the moon" became the driving force of American scientific exploration during the 1950's and 1960's, the race to control the trade routes to the far reaches of the globe and to expand its technological knowledge of navigation became the driving force of Spanish foreign and domestic policy during the period of world history from the 15th to the 17th centuries. This period is also commonly called "The Age of Discovery" by European historians. The economic impact of Spain's forays into the New World or worlds ultimately changed the face of European knowledge of the world and the economic structure of Europe. Both the residents of Spain and Europe as a whole, however, experienced both positive and negative effects of this exploration. However, the effects upon Europe were on the whole largely beneficial, because of the increased exposure to new goods and the expansion of technology and knowledge that came as a result of colonization and exploration. However, the impact upon the existing inhabitants of the New World was largely negative."

Tags:europe, spain, portugal, discovery, technology, inhabitants, colonization, exploration, islam, christianity

Abstract
This six-page undergraduate paper examines the role of Simon Bolivar in the war of independence that South Americans waged against the Spanish in the 19th century.

Abstract
This paper explores the large difference between the European/Spanish opinion on gold and wealth in general and the Incan opinion. The paper begins by explaining that in Spain, gold was something that could be acquired and made, to be spent on other objects and services. The paper then looks at the area of the Andes, where all gold was the sole property of the Sapa Inca who then distributed the wealth in the form of clothes and food according to your seniority. Also unlike in Spain, the Sapa Incaes, distributed food and clothes to the needy and old from his imperial stor.

From the Paper
"Five hundred years ago two hundred Spanish conquistadors under the command of Hernando Pizarro invaded the Incan empire from the new Spanish frontier-town of Panama. Over the next 100 years the cruel, relentless Spanish and the diseases that they brought from Europe would decimate the entire Indian population of the Andes almost destroying a way of life and a culture that had been nurtured in isolation for hundreds of years. In the process the Inca lost everything - their land, gold, status and right to practice their own religion as they were Christianize and moved to forced labour camps to mine the gold that the Spanish yearned for so much. Even today most of the Indians live in the slums of the Andean cities or in isolated communities up in the mountains. In the days of the Inca, due to strict organization on the part of the Sapa Inca (Emperor), no one would ever have starved or been left homeless. Nowadays many of the native peoples of South America live below the poverty line."

Tags:america, indian, south, wealth, jewel, royal

Abstract
This paper explores the question: Why did the United States interfere in the internal politics of Nicaragua in the 1970's and 80's?. It features a recount of the political situation pre US involvement; a break down of the reasons for U.S. interference and a description of the effects of this process.

From the Paper
"The US interference in the affairs of Nicaragua during the Carter and Reagan administrations and its subsequent exposure to the international community remains as an example of international terrorism disguised as a form of US foreign policy. Before the answering question as to why the US government felt it necessary to blatantly ignore both international and American law in order to destabilize the Nicaraguan political scene, a brief outline of the events concerned must be offered."

Tags:america, carter, contras, latin, reagan, sandinistas, usa

Abstract
This paper discusses a period (1844-1864) in the history of the Dominican Republic during a period when the country gained independence; suffered through corrupt, ruthless leadership; experienced several revolutions; repelled repeated invasions from Haiti and became a Spanish protectorate. This paper states that the pattern of rule by caudillos, or military strongmen, such Pedro Santana and Buenaventura Baez, was established during these years. The author believes that it is unfortunate that the Dominican Republic never got the kind of government and leaders that it needed during this period and, in many ways, is still suffering today from the effects of these early years.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Independence and the Establishment of a Government
Santana's First Term
The Accession of Baez
Alternating Regimes
Spanish Annexation
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In 1844, a group known as La Trinitaria, co-founded by a young idealist named Juan Pablo Duarte, decided to bring their plan for establishing the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti to fruition. Aided by a wealthy rancher, Pedro Santana and his cowboys, the group seized Santo Domingo and its fortress on 27 February 1844. Other key conspirators were Tomas Bobadilla and Ramon Mella. A junta was formed, and Bobadilla was made president. Manuel Jimenes, a Trinitarian was made vice president."

Tags:corruption, santana, caudillos, revolution, spain

Abstract
This paper focuses on the various and varied sources used by Soustelle in his book in which the author provides a multi-perspective account into the daily life of the Aztecs. Soustelle draws upon original source documents from surviving texts and materials. He cites surviving Aztec documents such as the Codex Azcatitlan, Cronica Mexicayotl, and the Mapa Tlotzin; Soustelle also cites numerous Spanish sources written at the time of conquest.

From the Paper
"The Introduction to Daily Life of the Aztecs provides historical context and background to the ideas, issues, and facts Soustelle presents in the book. The author begins by reminding the reader that the Aztecs were only one of many Mexican civilizations that flowered since the third millennium, BCE. Furthermore, Soustelle notes that the Aztecs themselves conquered other cultures on Mexican soil to eventually attain dominance of the region. The area in question is Mexico-Tenochtitlan, or the valley now known as Mexico City. Because Aztec life during the fifteenth century was largely urban in nature, Soustelle is also able to hone in on the specifics of city life. This makes the material extremely accessible to modern readers, who can relate to many of the aspects of daily life depicted in Soustelle's book. The introduction also clarifies the source documents. The Aztecs were dedicated to chronicling their culture, as they were proud and self-conscious people. Their language was a sophisticated set of figurative and phonetic pictographs. Unfortunately, after conquest, most of the Aztec writings were destroyed. The Spaniards, when they first encountered the Aztec people, deemed them immoral savages incapable of producing anything of true worth. Soustelle does a great job of emphasizing the horrendous nature of the conquest, even as he is able to describe some of the more brutal activities the Aztecs themselves engaged in. Soustelle's account is honest but not without opinion"

Tags:Codex, Azcatitlan, Cronica, Mexicayotl, Mapa, Tlotzin