The Last Colonial Massacre By Greg Grandin

The author of this book is Juan Jose Arevalo and he was a professor of philosophy who became Guatemala’s first democratically elected president in 1944. He was elected after a popular uprising against the United States, backed by Dictator Jorge Ubico, which began the Guatemalan Revolution. He stayed in office until 1951 and had survived 15 coup attempts. During his presidency he had passed several social reform policies that included an increase in minimum wage and a series of literacy programs. He also directed and ministered the drafting of a new constitution in 1945. Arevalo focused much on the need of advancement with individuals and communities. After he was exiled as being a university professor he went back to Guatemala to help the new post-Ubico government, focusing on the areas of social security and drafting of a new constitution. He developed the term “spiritual socialism”, in which he defined his political philosophy as. The philosophy was pointed towards the moral development of Guatemalans with the intent to liberate man psychologically. Arevalo strongly believed that this theoretical doctrine was vital to the making of a progressive and peaceful Guatemalan society. He felt in order to create an ideal society it was necessary to allow the citizens the freedom to pursue their own opinions, property, and way of life. He proclaimed that protecting the freewill of the citizens creates more support for governmental institutions, which in turn ensures the security of

1. Describe the purpose and location of the Proclamation Line, and the problems associated with it.

Guatemala is a beautiful country that is known for its many Mayan cites, rich culture and its wide rainforest. The country has volcanos, delicious foods and a wonderful atmosphere that make for a rich tourist attraction. But the country has a history that isn’t as wonderful as I have made it sound. This country has endured a very tragic Civil War that started in 1960 and ended in 1996. This 36 year war was devastating to this country because of the many deaths that had happened and because of all of the tragic moments that happened within the span of the war. The Guatemalan Civil War was one of the many acts of genocide that have happened all around the world but even though there were many tragedies this country has developed past it and become the beautiful

Born in Blood and Fire text describe and explain Chasteen’s perceptions on the effect that important invents that occurred in Latin America had during the Cold War. Chasteen’s visions of the period were precise and outstanding. First Chasteen’s ideas reflect how during the Cold War Latin American governments started turning into a military rule with the United Sates as an ally and founder of their army. He explains how countries started revolutionary movements in order to fight for nationalism. Marxist ideologies and communist revolutionary guerrillas rose as well as anticommunist governments. Chasteen’s argues how during the Cold War period there was a constant increase of civil right abuses from the government’s army who impose their power with violence and brutality. Chasteen’s ideas are reflected and confirmed in the Guatemala Reader documents by describing specific events that occurred in Guatemala during the Cold War period. The Guatemala Reader goes beyond Chasteen’s ideas by giving detailed documents and historical facts of the social injustices that people had to go through every day. Born in Blood and Fire texts and the Guatemala Reader documents show the rise of civil wars and a period of political struggle in Latin America during the Cold War.

In history, the wars and revolutions of countries have begun with rebellions and those in the rebellions fighting back. Those rebellions are often a response to tyranny and unjust demands from the government against their subjects. After the colonies had settled themselves into the new land, the British became greedy for more money and power. They began to pass Acts after Acts that taxed the colonies on many everyday things like paper, tea, sugar, etc. and even forcing the colonies to keep British soldiers in their houses and feed them. These actions from Britain made the colonies feel like the king of England did not treat them like adults and it angered the colonists. The colonists were outraged at how the British were taxing them, and how

In Empire’s Workshop, Greg Grandin argues that the United States engineered a destructive domestic fusion of religious fundamentalism, hawkish neoconservatism, and nationalism - to justify it’s engagement in a jingoistic, self-serving foreign policy in Latin America. Furthermore, his work details the preemptive clash against perceived communist elements, and places the ideological disagreements regarding private-property, as the primary mover in US actions. By examining the Guatemalan coup of 1954, which Grandin describes as the Central Intelligence Agency’s “first full-scale covert operation” in Latin America, we can assess the prototypical reasoning behind US intervention. Moreover, the thorough assessment of the motivations of American

In the article titled “The State of Native America: Genocide, Colonization and Resistance”, by author M. Annette Jaimes there is a topic of the crimes committed against the indigenous people in North America. The article mentions the brutalities that happened against the Native American people of Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. The article includes a part of the book Sand Creek that described an event that occurred on November of 1864 in which armed men massacred Native Americans (Ortiz, 2000). The heated battle between the indigenous people and the people that migrated from Europe lasted for decades. The article mentions quite a few times how history has been robbed of knowing the real truth about the settling of many new Europeans to North America. The people that were in charge of murdering the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes were compared to historical figures that have been known to have a disturbing past in committing massacres certain cultural groups. One of the people that were used as comparison was the infamous Adolf Hitler. There was also a similarity between the SS and the Colorado Volunteers, who were the men who killed the many Cheyenne and Arapaho people. Both the SS and the Colorado Volunteers had similar goals and committed crimes towards the group who they believed stopped them from achieving those goals. A man by the name of David Nichols is said to being also involved in the events involving the Sand Creek massacre, and how he was not seen as a criminal but was

In American Exodus, James N. Gregory presents the struggles and misconceptions of the Okie migrant, their defiance to cultural oppression and the change they brought. To analyze the brunt force of the Dust Bowl and the Depression of the Great Plain region; he traces the movement from route 66, evaluates the reception in California, and shows how the migrants both accommodated and left from the culture of the Golden State. Throughout the book, he dismisses many of the stereotypes created by John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and Dorothea Lange’s messages in photography. In doing so, Gregory presents a social wave, from the norm of stereotyping and the defiance of culture itself by bringing about unity in the form of narration of events and sub-topics. Furthermore, this event is brought to the hands of historians and future historians, a subject that often ignored in American history that has impacted various states including California.

My first reaction from watching the video on the lady in Florida was, “Why did I not hear about this?” It is such a horrifying and freak accident that I am very surprised I did not hear about it. I honestly think if the lady was African American maybe I would of, because there is always coverage on white cops shooting African Americans. I also stand by black lives matter, because they are treated unfairly. The second reaction I had was, “How did bullets get into a gun that was meant for a fake shooting?” I agree that the gun should have been on safety the whole time, and that he should of double checked for rounds in the gun. I once again agree on the fact, that an experienced cop should have been able to feel the difference from a loaded gun

Further, in the text “CIA and Guatemala Assassination Proposals,” it is revealed that the CIA “developed a major propaganda campaign” that, “included sending wooden coffins, hangmans’ nooses, and phony bombs to selected individuals” (“CIA and Guatemala”) in Guatemala. This use of terror and psychological warfare was intended to horrify Guatemalan civilians and politicians prior to executing the actual coup. It is clear that American foreign policy was quite dangerous in correlation with Guatemala and exhibited a masculine attitude. In relation to de Beauvoir, American foreign policy can be compared to “the great advantage enjoyed by the boy” in which “his mode of existence in relations to others leads him to assert his subjective freedom” (de

The Pottawatomie Massacre happen one night on May 24,1856. John Brown was a Abolitionist he was against slavery he murders five men from pro-slavery settlement on pottawatomie creek. John brown led the anti-slavery and by many men and family. The victims who were killed were associated by franklin county court. The Pottawatomie Massacre was one several that stirred national over bleeding kansas and slavery.during the US territories in the mid

The United States was in favor of democracy in Latin America; however, the reforms made by these “democracies” had to stay within the limits imposed by the US. Therefore, Arbenz became a communist threat after legalizing the communist party and moving to nationalize the plantation of the United Fruit Company . By nationalizing the United Fruit Company, the US and the land owners in Guatemala were going to lose money; therefore, they shared common ground, and were against it. They did not agree with the empowerment of the indigenous people of Mayan descent, and were always discriminated upon. The dictators from neighboring countries were afraid that the reforms being made in Guatemala were going to influence their “respective oligarchies” (Rabe, Stephen G.) and helped organize a possible coup with the United States (Miller, Talea). The CIA desperately searched for any ties between the USSR and Arbenz, but could not find anything. The CIA in Guatemala reported a list with names of communists that they wanted to eliminate when an anti-communist coup was taken place (Document 2), and the killings

With Captain Newport gone, John Smith took matters into his own hands, doing what he believed was best for the colony. In a desperate effort to save the settlers, Smith made a courageous attempt to trade with the local Native Americans for food. On December 10, 1607, Smith and a small group of men sailed up the James River only to be attacked by a Native American tribe when they entered the forest. In the short, bloody battle, two Native American warriors were killed as well as the colonial explorers. Smith was captured and taken as prisoner to chief Powhatan. “…a large stone was brought before Powhatan, and several men assembled with clubs in their hands… [Smith] being brought blindfolded to the spot to the spot, his head was laid on the stone, and the men prepared with their clubs to beat out his brains…when Pocahontas ran with mournful distraction to the stone, and getting the victim’s head into her arms, laid her own upon it to receive the blow.” Smith later writes about the lifesaving miracle that occurred, surely he thought he would meet his death. Chief Powhatan’s younger daughter (about twelve years of age) protected Smith and pleaded that his live be spared. The chief eventually gave in to his daughter’s pleas. A modern belief on the near execution of John Smith suggests that Smith may have misunderstood the events taking place in Powhatan’s longhouse. Historians suggest that Smith may have been subject to a tribal ritual meant to symbolize Smith’s death and

The Massacre at El Mozote begins in the present where scientists are uncovering the bodies of the villagers of El Mozote who were unjustly slaughtered by the Salvadoran government with the aid of the American administration. Rufina Amaya, the sole survivor of the massacre, recounted her story for many years and it is only recently it was deemed credible. The massacre at El Mozote is one of the lesser known consequences of the Cold War. It is a crucial event that highlights the powerful, irrational fear induced by the Cold War and its violent outcomes. Communism was perceived as a disease, one that could not be obliterated without throwing human rights out of the window.

The forty-three students disappeared in a town named Ayotzinapa. They attended to a school named “Escuela Normal,” a college where students go to become teachers for rural schools. The students were planning on going to a march related to the event of October 2nd, 1968(a march for more freedom of expression which turned into the death of a hundred students, seven-hundred students injured, and five-thousand students arrested; the people who serve and protect were the ones who caused this tragic event). As the students were on their way to Mexico City the mayor of Iguala, Mr. Abarca, ordered the police to stop them because he thought the students were going to protest against his wife’s report―who was linked with drug dealers―, but because they