Colonial Commodities & Slavery in the Americas In this course, we will examine the development of extractive economies and the relationship between colonialism, consumption, and forced labor in colonial north and South America. Using a comparative approach, we will survey how commodities such as cacao, cotton, coffee, gold, silver, sugar, and tobacco shaped African and Native slavery across the continent. Our topics will include the development of price systems for enslaved people and goods in the world economy, the emergence of ideas regarding racial differences and their relationship with forced labor, how enslaved people resisted their enslavement, and the abolition of slavery across the Americas. Students will examine primary sources such as financial records, slave narratives, historical price indexes, and scholarly monographs. Pre-1800. 3 hr sem.

Blood & Money: History of Early US Capitalism

Slavery and Freedom in the American North In this course we will study how the “American North,” constituted by New England, New York,  New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, became a place of enslavement. Although often treated as a cradle  of freedom, we will explore how the region’s colonists imported African slaves and enslaved and  exported Native Americans. Through lecture, discussion, and primary sources, we will examine the transatlantic slave trade of Africans and Native Americans, the communities built by enslaved  and free people, the impact of the American Revolution, the creation of gradual abolition statues,  and the perpetuation of enslavement until the Civil War. We will also grapple with the role of  memory in history, as the region’s slaveholding past is often ignored by its inhabitants.

Race, Medicine, and Health in U.S. History In this course we will explore the historical relationships between race, medicine, and public health in  the United States from colonial times to the present. Through a series of case studies that include  epidemics such as smallpox, yellow fever, and COVID-19, we will trace the origins of racial  classification and its impact on medical care. Our topics include the management of illness in colonial  times, the relationship between medical schools and slavery, the eugenics movement, immigration restrictions, the use of minorities as experimentation subjects, the fight against medical discrimination, and the current struggles for health care access. We will approach these subjects through sources such  as scholarly publications, diaries, documentaries, medical journals, oral histories, and print media. 2  hrs lect./1 hr. disc.

African American History In this course we will examine the history of African Americans from the rise of the transatlantic slave trade  to the present. The course will reveal how African Americans actively shaped their history and the history  of the United States as an American nation. We will explore topics such as the Middle passage, African American slave cultures, enslaved resistance, emancipation, the rise of legalized segregation, mass migrations, and the  continuing struggles for equality. We will approach the subject matter using a variety of primary and secondary sources that focus on the experiences of individuals such as enslaved narratives, autobiographies, documentaries, and oral histories.

Baseball, Society, and US History In this course we will use baseball as our lens to examine a broad range of issues in U.S. history from the Civil War to the 20th Century. Baseball’s past will allow us to understand social and cultural change by delving into topics such as capitalism, class, gender, identity, immigration, labor rights, and race. We will read autobiographies, box scores, newspaper accounts, and scholarly monographs that trace the evolution of America’s pastime from a leisurely activity to a multimillion-dollar industry. Class activities will allow students to develop reading, writing, and presentation skills, receiving feedback on their progress throughout the term. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.*

Universities and Slavery in America In this seminar we will explore and compare the different histories of enslavement at schools across the  country from colonial times to the present. Some of the questions we will answer include: what was the  importance of slavery in the development of higher education? How did people experience enslavement in  schools? How did universities perpetuate slavery culture? The class will also consider the emerging debates  over reparations and restorative justice and the role of students in these developments across the country. Using our knowledge of other institutions, students will research Middlebury’s place in this history.

Universities and Slavery in America In this seminar we will explore and compare the different histories of enslavement at schools across the  country from colonial times to the present. Some of the questions we will answer include: what was the  importance of slavery in the development of higher education? How did people experience enslavement in  schools? How did universities perpetuate slavery culture? The class will also consider the emerging debates  over reparations and restorative justice and the role of students in these developments across the country. Using our knowledge of other institutions, students will research Middlebury’s place in this history. 3hrs  sem.

Elsa Mendoza

Reviews and ratings for Elsa Mendoza at Middlebury College.Elsa Mendoza teaches Commodities & Slavery Americas, History of Early US Capitalism, Slavery & Freedom Am. North and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Elsa Mendoza good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

this class was so informative! professor mendoza wants to make you a better writer, and always has such helpful and detailed feedback after each essay. She's also always willing to meet with you (and I highly suggest you do, especially for the first paper). She's so passionate about the subject, and you can tell. Highly recommend!

Mendoza is the best! So accomodating and really wants you to succeed. Cares about the material and so engaging. Legit almost cried in one of her lectures it was so inspirational... Taking another class with her now and it's amazing

Love professor Mendoza. If you have a chance I recommend you take a course with her. Her grading is fair and she made the class super interesting. Papers were kind of long but other than that it was great.