HIST 193

The History of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands in Perspective

Borderlands are areas where nation states meet one another. There are many borderlands the world over, and many of them share similar problems and challenges for their respective governments. Since they are all by definition frontier zones and they often elude state surveillance, such highly diverse actors as cattle rustlers, Indians, runaway slaves, grasping caudillos, and drug runners appear often in borderlands histories. In this class, we will compare the history of borderlands across Latin America and pay particular attention to the U.S.-Mexico border. Through examining secondary texts, official government documents, and even the songs and stories authored by border people themselves, we will unravel the immensely complicated and troubled history of these borderla nds.

Regular Liberal Arts

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