Mexicanos, Second Edition : A History of Mexicans in the United States

Responding to shifts in the political and economic experiences of Mexicans in America, this newly revised and expanded edition of Mexicanos provides a relevant and contemporary consideration of this vibrant community. Emerging from the ruins of Aztec civilization and from centuries of Spanish contact with indigenous people, Mexican culture followed the Spanish colonial frontier northward and put its distinctive mark on what became the southwestern United States. Shaped by their Indian and Spanish ancestors, deeply influenced by Catholicism, and often struggling to respond to political and economic precarity, Mexicans play an important role in US society even as the dominant Anglo culture strives to assimilate them. With new maps, updated appendicxes, and a new chapter providing an up-to-date consideration of the immigration debate centered on Mexican communities in the US, this new edition of Mexicanos provides a thorough and balanced contribution to understanding Mexicans’ history and their vital importance to 21st-century America. From The Publisher: Newly Revised And Updated, Mexicanos Tells The Rich And Vibrant Story Of Mexicans In The United States. Emerging From The Ruins Of Aztec Civilization And From Centuries Of Spanish Contact With Indigenous People, Mexican Culture Followed The Spanish Colonial Frontier Northward And Put Its Distinctive Mark On What Became The Southwestern United States. Shaped By Their Indian And Spanish Ancestors, Deeply Influenced By Catholicism, And Tempered By An Often Difficult Existence, Mexicans Continue To Play An Important Role In U.s. Society, Even As The Dominant Anglo Culture Strives To Assimilate Them. Thorough And Balanced, Mexicanos Makes A Valuable Contribution To The Understanding Of The Mexican Population Of The United States-a Growing Minority Who Are A Vital Presence In 21st-century America. Spaniards And Native Americans, Prehistory-1521 -- The Spanish Frontier, 1521-1821 -- The Mexican Far North, 1821-1848 -- The American Southwest, 1848-1900 -- The Great Migration, 1900-1930 -- The Depression, 1930-1940 -- The Second World War And Its Aftermath, 1940-1965 -- The Chicano Movement, 1965-1975 -- Goodbye To Aztlán, 1975-1994 -- The Hispanic Challenge, 1994-present. Manuel G. Gonzales. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [343]-379) And Index. Mexicanos tells the rich and vibrant story of Mexicans in the United States. Emerging from the ruins of Aztec civilization and from centuries of Spanish contact with indigenous people, Mexican culture followed the Spanish colonial frontier northward and put its distinctive mark on what became the southwestern United States. Shaped by their Indian and Spanish ancestors, deeply influenced by Catholicism, and tempered by an often difficult existence, Mexicans continue to play an important role in U.S. society, even as the dominant Anglo culture strives to assimilate them. Throughout this history, Gonzales attempts to do justice to the variety of experience in what is, after all, a heterogeneous community. He tells of vendidos (sellouts) and heroes, the legendary and the little-known, the failures and the triumphant. Thorough and balanced, Mexicanos makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Mexican population of the United States, a growing minority who will be a vital presence in twenty-first-century America. Cover......Page 1 MEXICANOS......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 16 1 Spaniards and Native Americans, Prehistory–1521......Page 25 2 The Spanish Frontier, 1521–1821......Page 48 3 The Mexican Far North, 1821–1848......Page 81 4 The American Southwest, 1848–1900......Page 110 5 The Great Migration, 1900–1930......Page 144 6 The Depression, 1930–1940......Page 178 7 The Second World War and Its Aftermath, 1940–1965......Page 224 8 The Chicano Movement, 1965–1975......Page 260 9 Goodbye to Aztlán, 1975–1994......Page 299 10 The Hispanic Challenge, 1994–2008......Page 345 11 Mexicanos and the Homeland Security State, 2008–Present......Page 391 Appendix A: National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Scholars of the Year......Page 420 Appendix B: Hispanic-American Medal of Honor Recipients......Page 422 Select Bibliography of Chicana/o Studies since 2000......Page 424 Index......Page 462 Mexican American is a term devoid of meaning before 1848.