Characteristics Of Tejano's Life In Texas

One of many distinguishing characteristics of Tejano’s lives in Texas was their strong sense of being a part of a community, and having the right to govern themselves. The Tejanos lived in different functioning communities, but all had the same underlying social beliefs. In the mid-1830s the Tejano people are faced with aggressive oppression from Americans. Industrialization, migration, loss of land, and unjustified treatment are all factors that contribute to the instability of the Tejano communities.
Before the arrival of the Americans in Texas Tejano people were divided into two classes, Ricos and Pobres. Ricos were upper class citizens who had held government positions, and pobres were considered to be of “mixed-blood” and were manual

In 1836, the “Anglo-Texan” victory was an important turning point for the Mexicans living in Texas. By the Americans gaining independence from Mexico allows them to make major institutional changes. As Arnoldo De Leon states, “Tejanos became virtually foreigners in their native land” (p.169). Oppression was a key aspect for the American migrating to Texas. They brought their preconceived ideas of who nonwhite people were. As Tejanos begin to witness social, economic, and political changes within their communities they soon realize that the color of their skin “evoked perverse racial responses” (p.175). The shift in change within the Tejano communities provokes Tejanos to put up a resistance to change. Like the Americans, the Tejano people also had an idea of who the Americans people were, and knew of their oppressive

For example, Men like Charles Stillman intermarried into the upper Mexican class; which allowed him to make social connections within the Tejano community that would allow him to gain land, and great political influence that will help Americans establish their superiority over the Tejanos. Furthermore, Industrialization provided a way to bring American settlers and manufactured goods west, which will cause a shift for subsistence to commercial farming. As more Americans migrate into other parts of Texas the Tejano people begin losing their land, having their cattle taken away, as well as they were deliberately harassed and harmed by American people, who sought to keep the Tejano people defenseless. Senator Joseph E. Dwyer had testified to the unjustified cruelty that many of the Tejano people were faced with, He states “Whites brutally murdered a Mexican who refused to go play the fiddle for them” (p.173), which goes to show that the Tejanos people were losing their rights to freedom that they once had, and their ability to make profit with the oppressive changing economic