Rio Abajo: The Victory Of New Mexico

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." was said by Marcus Garvey. Some observers may criticize the fact that Mexican American History is taught at the greater academic level, however a more diverse curriculum is fundamental in developing an awareness for racism; the recognition of potential self-subjugation through lack of education; and the basic obligation to keep students cognizant of a world beyond themselves. Mexican American History as well as the histories of other cultures/countries should be taught in the classroom for the sake of cultivating a broader

The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican American war in 1848 was a very important decision in our history. We allowed the Mexican government to keep Mesilla Valley in place of them giving us the Santa Rita Mountains. We believed that we would profit off of this compromise due to the fact that we thought there was rich copper deposits, and some silver and gold which had not yet been mined. Little did we know that the Mesilla Valley was essential for the construction of a Southern Transcontinental Railroad. The reason it was important for the railroad was because it consisted of flat desert land about fifty miles north to south and 200 miles wide, east to west. There were two parcels of the land that President Pierce instructed Gadsden to try and buy. The Baja California Peninsula was the first for fifty million dollars or the thirty eight thousand square miles of dry arid desert. Santa Ana needed money badly to help build up his army to defend against the very people wanting to pay him, the United States. He thought the best solution was to sell as little land as possible for the most

a city where an eagle with a snake in its beak rested on a cactus. This

Grito Dolores also known as the “Cry of Dolores” marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. The war was launched by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a renowned Catholic priest. The war was started in response to the three hundred years of turmoil that the Mexicans faced from the Spaniards. Such problems that they faced included racial inequality and the imperialism that the Spaniards forced down the throats of the Mexicans. The “ Cry of Dolores” gave the empowering speech given Miguel Hidalgo, in front of his parish church was used as a tool to help empower the populous community.

It’s 1846 and a war has begun, thousands dead, and only half of Mexico is left. This war took place on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande. The war ended in 1848 after mass destruction took place. The war was called the ‘Mexican War” or the ‘US Invasion” depending on what side you were on. Many things led to the Mexican War. One event was that John Sidell was asked to leave Mexico City because he angered the Mexican government. Also, James K. Polk became president of the United States in late 1844. The last major event that led to the Mexican War was that Congress voted to annex Texas (Background Essay, par 6-7). Other previous events that led up to this war was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Texas

The war with Mexico abruptly started with the annexation of Texas. Though the land was originally Mexico’s, the U.S had taken part of the territory in the belief of Manifest Destiny. America thought of it as god’s

U.S. War with Mexico had many effects on both countries. Even though American’s gained a considerable amount of land, it leads to a great deal of sectional tension. The two governments agreed to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which confirmed the annexation of Texas and ceded California and present day México, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah to the United States (Foner,474). With this huge land acquisition, the issue of slavery in the new territories was raised. The new land caused a great deal of conflict, and created great political sectionalism in America. Gaining this much land at a time seemed like a good idea until Americans had to deal with the political issues that went along with it. Residents from both the North and the South wanted

Since the United States was founded as an independent nation from Great Britain, its people had confronted many economic, political, and social problems. The United States started to expand its territory in the western part of the country. Some examples are the Louisiana purchase from1803 and the Spanish Florida annexation. One of the most significant and controversial in the antebellum years was the Texas annexation which was a result of the War between Mexico and the war of independence by Texan rebels on the late 1830’s and 1840’s. Therefore, the annexation of the Republic of Texas existed from 1836-1845 produced controversy and consequences on both sides of the border.

This research paper focuses on the Rio Grande Valley, and immigration. The purpose of this research paper is to demonstrate that immigration to the Rio Grande valley has had a negative impact. Effects immigration has on the Valley 's economy, employment, and education are discussed. The concepts of "informal" and "underground" economy by Richardson, C. and Pisani, M. are covered to demonstrate the unique economy the Rio Grande has. Poverty rates at a national and local level are compared. Studies by Richardson, C. and Pagan, J. are used for their statistical information regarding unemployment in the Rio Grande Valley from the years 2000 until today. Counterarguments regarding positive effects in the Rio Grande are considered. Conclusion reached is that immigration in the Rio Grande Valley does have a negative effect, although it is needed, to a certain point in employment and economy; however a positive impact has been experienced in education.

The Alamo, which means “cottonwood”, was initially built by the Spaniards for accommodating native religious services in 1724 and up until 1783 (“The Alamo,” n.d.). When Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1810, it was transformed into a cavalry unit that was operated by Mexico. As time went on, colonists from the east were getting word of the vast amount of inexpensive lands available in Mexico’s northern territory called Texas. Mexicans were not pleased with the land hungry settlers occupying their lands and Texians were not pleased with Mexico’s over controlling government. “In 1835 the Mexican President and General Santa Anna proclaimed a new constitution that increased the power of the Presidency and reduced the power of provincial governments” (New World Encyclopedia, paragraph 4). It was said that General Santa Anna was so brutal, that he would reward his men by

I believe that, it is this assistance from Mexico in the development of the Southern United States’ land reform that is not sufficiently covered in our History books. I believe that if we would take into consideration the results of how the agrarian land reform in Mexico would unfold, we could understand how the land reform in the Southern U.S came to be and how the

The Mexican Cession refers to America’s expansion due West to the Pacific River that would lead to the Mexican-American War, and Mexico would ultimately cede land to the growing United States. Reasons for the expansion can be related to America’s mentality of manifest destiny. People believed that even God himself had blessed the country for expansion and this only added fuel to what soon would lead to advancing uncharted territory. Conditions throughout were strong, but America had an expedition and a mission to uphold that would make the United States a world power for decades to come.

Dr. Henderson’s purpose for writing A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States is to explain the causes of Mexico going to war with the United States in 1846, and the reasons Mexico suffered severely from it. Dr. Henderson’s focus throughout the book is not solely on the military tactics, but rather on the political and diplomatic maneuvering. This approach to the book is to provide to the reader the conflict’s real significance, as to the how and why the United States and Mexico went to war. This book does not point blame at either side, but tells the war from the Mexican point of view. Furthermore, Dr. Henderson explores Mexico’s weaknesses at the time and how those weaknesses led to the war with the United States.

The Spanish conquest of Mexico drastically influenced modern day Latin America, it generated a mixture of race, countless dialects, and religious syncretism with the Catholic faith. The conquest involved three main aspects that were crucial to its success. The rise of subdued indigenous people by the Mexica. The great devastation caused by European disease to the natives. Lastly, the Spaniards ruthlessness and military superiority. Without these aspects the conquest of Mexico might have gone a different direction

     In 1519 Hernán Cortés led a couple hundred other Spaniards inland to the impressive Empire of the Mexica ruled by the Great Montezuma. Many historians today tell how quickly and almost effortlessly these Spaniards conquered the Empire. They paint an image of ignorant, helpless Indians practically giving up their land out of fear of this group because certainly the Spaniards must be gods since they have powerful weapons and strange animals. We know neither Cortés nor any of his men were gods, of course, but what was it that allowed Cortés to prevail over the inhabitants of the land?