Lehman College of the City University of New York

Department of Latin American and Puerto Rican Studies

1. Type of Change: New Course

2. Course Description: LAC 304: The Social History of Hispaniola, 3 hours, 3 credits. History

and social developments of the island of Hispaniola from colonial times to the present. Focus on the formation of the Spanish colony, the division of the island, the French and Haitian Revolutions, the creation of two nations (the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic), conflicts over the border and race relations, the massacre of 1937, and the present social conditions in both nations.

3. Rationale: Hispaniola social history is essential to understanding present conflicts between the Dominican Republic and Haiti and to shed light on other larger societal developments in the Caribbean and Latin America.

4. Learning Objectives: This course seeks to provide students with in-depth knowledge of societies plagued with a complexity of contradictions, and with the tools to think critically about nation-building in the midst of conflicts

5. By the end of the course, students should be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of French and Spanish colonialism on

Hispaniola and the Caribbean.

Demonstrate an understanding of the political and social history of the Republic of

Haiti and the Dominican Republic, including key phenomena such as: 18th-century

and early 19th-century abolition; the French Revolution and Haiti independence;

nationalism and independence on the eastern (Dominican) side of Hispaniola; 19th –

century political developments; Dictator Trujillo; racism; recent and contemporary

events.

Articulate a critical view of the historical and contemporary conflicts between Haiti

and the Dominican Republic.

Propose alternative policies that might resolve current social, racial, and political

conflicts.

Speak and write with critical coherence about the social and political history of

Hispaniola, and about the complex and conflicted interrelationship of the Republic

of Haiti and the Dominican Republic today.

1. Date of LACPRS Department Approval: December 3, 2009

Lehman College of the City University of New York

Department of Latin American and Puerto Rican Studies

6. Type of Change: Experimental Course

7. Course Description: LAC 304: The Social History of Hispaniola, 3 hours, 3 credits. History

and social developments of the island of Hispaniola from colonial times to the present. Focus on the formation of the Spanish colony, the division of the island, the French and Haitian Revolutions, the creation of two nations (the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic), conflicts over the border and race relations, the massacre of 1937, and the present social conditions in both nations.

8. Rationale: Hispaniola social history is essential to understanding present conflicts between the Dominican Republic and Haiti and to shed light on other larger societal developments in the Caribbean and Latin America.

9. Learning Objectives: This course seeks to provide students with in-depth knowledge of societies plagued with a complexity of contradictions, and with the tools to think critically about nation-building in the midst of conflicts

10. By the end of the course, students should be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of French and Spanish colonialism on

Hispaniola and the Caribbean.

Demonstrate an understanding of the political and social history of the Republic of

Haiti and the Dominican Republic, including key phenomena such as: 18th-century

and early 19th-century abolition; the French Revolution and Haiti independence;

nationalism and independence on the eastern (Dominican) side of Hispaniola; 19th –

century political developments; Dictator Trujillo; racism; recent and contemporary

events.

Articulate a critical view of the historical and contemporary conflicts between Haiti

and the Dominican Republic.

Propose alternative policies that might resolve current social, racial, and political

conflicts.

Speak and write with critical coherence about the social and political history of

Hispaniola, and about the complex and conflicted interrelationship of the Republic

of Haiti and the Dominican Republic today.

2. Date of LACPRS Department Approval: December 3, 2009