The conquistadors had taken over, the Aztecs previous social status and hierarchy was in pieces. Formerly, the Aztecs’ had full control of all their trade, military, and government. But now, after Cortes has taken over they’ve been bumped all the way to the bottom of their hierarchy, where they no longer have control over their beautiful city. In the period before the Spanish invaded, every citizen had rights to live peacefully as long as they followed city rules placed by Moctezuma. Everyone in the Aztec Empire had the right to learn and everyone had sufficient job opportunities.
Chapter One- Mexicans in the United States Chapter one outlined historic dates ranging from the 17th century to the 1900s and how these dates impacted Mexicans in the United States. In 1610 the town of Santa Fe, New Mexico was founded and in the 17th century became the number one location for settlement. Cities such as Albuquerque, Nacogdoches, San Antoni, San Diego, Tucson, San José and Los Angeles became settlement centers in the 18th century. Moving forward into 1802 the Louisiana Purchase became a catalyst for expansion. One of the most important events of the 1800s occurred in 1821 when Mexico became independent from Spain.
Throughout the South West various Mexicans were being suppressed by Anglos. Not only were Mexicans not wanted in the U.S., but were blamed for all the banditry that occurred. Mexicans became the main targets of Anglos threatening Mexican lives and making them live in fear. Innocent people were slaughtered for the simple reason of just being Mexican. In Texas the Texan people accused Mexicans of stealing 100,000 heads of cattle.
Anglo Settlers in New Mexico territories often disregarded the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgos. In this treaty it granted residing Mexicans citizen rights. These rights were constantly violated by Anglo
Chavez, Chavez speaks about the first migration of Chicano ancestors and the affects the migration had on how Chicanos see themselves. Western Hemisphere is the arrival area for the ancestors of Chicanos and other indigenous Americans. They arrived in the west in small groups they started this journey forty to seventy thousand years ago since human have existed in the old world for millions of year already the discovery of America was actually the finding of the new world. The descendants of the first arrivals spread south from the starting point all the way to South America where they arrived about 11,000 B.C. during this migration countless of groups broke off and went their own way and establish themselves in local area. After taking Mexico City in 1521 the Spanish decided to go north for new lands to conquer and project their own myths onto the unknown region that was to become the southwest.
The Chicano movement derives from early oppression of Mexicans. Robert Rodrigo, author of “The Origins and History of the Chicano Movement” acknowledges that, “At the end of the Mexican American war in 1848, Mexico lost half of its territory to the United States and its Mexican residents became ‘strangers in their own lands.’” In stating this fact, Rodrigo exemplifies the United States’ relations with Mexico, that, ultimately, led to their oppression. Moreover, these early relations led to social injustice for the Mexican community. Carlos Muñoz, author of The Chicano Movement: Mexican American History and the Struggle for Equality reports, “As a conquered people, beginning with the Texas-Mexico War of 1836 and the U.S. Mexico War of 1846-48, they have
They have contributed a lot to us and fought no less then we the people fought for this country. On Memorial Day, we honor all the courageous men and women who have served in the army and paid the price of death for their loyalty and dedication. From the point of the American Revolution to the war in Iraq now Hispanic Americans have risked their lives to defend the United States and its believes of freedom and democracy. In the Civil War probably the best-known Hispanic was the American naval officer named David G. Farragut because he successfully commanded Union forces at the capture of New Orleans. President Lincoln then gave him the Medal of Honor.
The issues that Mexican Americans are facing until this day is discrimination, exploitation and racism. According to Vigils research Chicanos face many adjustments in their beliefs, customs, values, so that they may feel racially and culturally belonging to a dominant group. The contributions of Chicano’s and other indigenous groups have empowered the development in the American Southwest. The Chicano movement took place in the 1960’s in the Southwest to achieve social equality, equality, economic, political because of the broken promises by the American Government.
Injustice and inequality often ignite the sparks of social and political movements. The Chicano (Mexican-American) and Puerto Rican movements of the 1900s provide such examples. Latinos are often considered a homogeneous and involved political subsection or as Beltrán describes a ‘sleeping giant.’ The metaphor describes a sleeping giant who contains much political control through its sheer size but does little with its power. Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans have historically proven this metaphor wrong and mobilized in great numbers to affect real change within their respective communities.
Within the past one and a half centuries, ever since the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, it allowed the United States to take a large portion of land. Since then, many Mexicans have been trying to emigrate themselves over to America, leaving behind their homelands. Mexican immigration in the early 1900 's was a huge issue that impacted the United State, in areas such as urban population, employment and many other ways. The mass number of Mexican immigrant 's that migrated to the United States from Mexico was at nearly half million in between the years of 1920 and 1929. Mexicans left their native land and moved to the United States not only to achieve financial prosperity, but to get out of the chaotic environment that Mexico was in at
Today, immigration is one of the most controversial and discussed topics in America. The subject of immigration has had a long and confusing history that takes a lifetime of education to fully comprehend. Within the United States, there are over 300 years of legislation that has passed to maintain migration into the States. When looking at immigration there are three main facets that are interconnected with each other, which are law, demographics, and economics. Immigration has drastically changed since the eighteenth and nineteenth century compared to what it is today in the twenty first century.
For example, the farm workers that were involved in the movement faced harsh working conditions and low wages. Students in school faced discrimination as well; some children were even not allowed to attend schools where Caucasian kids went. Mexican-Americans hardly had control over their own lives and property. For example, according to the article entitled, “Chicano Movement” by Sarah A Ramirez, “when a group of Mexican -Americans attempted to reclaim federal land in the USA, they were denied, even though based on the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, they have a right to that land since their property rights pre-existed before the Mexican War.” (Ramirez, 1)
America was an expanding country which had acquired more than half of the territory that had once belonged to Mexico. Investments from capitalists of the nation had a purpose to monopolize the country and obtain the wealth for the elite class as they thought of themselves to be. Advancements in the industrial area led to an increase in agricultural and mining work. Although there are many discriminatory laws set to keep the “foreigners” (Mexicans) in the lower class, the Mexicans had an opportunity for a greater future, with increasingly better working conditions and wages, some form of legal representation in the United States, and a chance for their children to receive an education. South of the US border conditions for the lower class of
Since immigration got its meaning, the United States has played a major, if not the biggest role in control over the issue. As the issue arose and immigration began to take place in large quantities into the United States, the U.S. has tried to protect and preserve itself by taking the form of a body both literally and metaphorically. This can be seen most evidently from the late 1800s to the late 1900s, and even now. The U.S. – Mexico border has become a sense of protection for the health of that body for many. “Yes, many who come across the [U.S.– Mexico] border are workers.
The Mexican American population is comprised of a myriad of different statuses. Many families have resided in this area since Spanish American first began to migrate and settle here. The lower class arrived in Texas along with Indian and Mexican immigrants to go to work on a Spanish ranch. Others more recently attained their status as citizens here after migrating from Mexico to the United States.
