Mexican Borderlands Essay

The subject of this chapter summary will be the eighteenth chapter of Alan Taylor’s American Colonies. The chapter is called “The Great Plains” and discusses the history of that geographical region from 1680-1800. Taylor begins by explaining how warfare both sustained and weakened New Mexico. It maintained unity, because without an external enemy to focus on, the Pueblo people would rise up in revolt against Mexico. However, the constant warfare discouraged any new settlers from putting down roots there. Spain's holdings in North America were weakened by the foreign policy of the motherland, which focused on the colonial core of the territory, not the exterior regions. For Mexico, New Mexico was just a buffer zone between itself and other

In this paper, I will be summarizing the following chapters: Chapter 3: "A Legacy of Hate: The Conquest of Mexico’s Northwest”; Chapter 4: “Remember the Alamo: The Colonization of Texas”; and Chapter 5: “Freedom in a Cage: The Colonization of New Mexico. All three chapters are from the book, “Occupied America, A History of Chicanos” by Rodolfo F. Acuna. In chapter three, Acuna explains the causes of the war between Mexico and North America. In chapter four, Acuna explains the colonization of Texas and how Mexicans migrated from Mexico to Texas. In chapter five, Acuna explains the colonization of New Mexico and the economic changes that the people had to go through.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which came into effect on 2 February 1848, ended the Mexican-American war and formally resolved territorial disputes resulting from that conflict. The treaty required the U.S. government to pay the Mexican government $15 million dollars, this in return for an expanse of territory that later became the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. I intend to argue that the treaty benefitted the people who inhabited, and later came to inhabit, that territory. I also propose that, as a result of the transfer of territory from a dictatorial regime to one that was based on democratic principles, both Mexico and the United States ultimately benefitted in several ways.

In Arizona, the 1890s marked the rise of a stronger economy, the importance of education, the slight influence of religion, a multitude of brilliant accomplishments, and was vastly impacted by both influential and infamous people. Historically, the 1890s was a great factor in the development of Arizona’s growth throughout the years. In fact, it was during these years that signs appeared to suggest Arizona’s eventual prosperity (“City of Phoenix History”). The decade begins in 1890, when the popularity of copper began to override that of silver (“Arizona”). Arizonans traveled all the way to California to mine for copper (“Transportation”).

In the recent past, the history of frontiers has become more relevant; spatial mobility, situational identity, local contingency and the ambiguities of power among others are some of the elements of borderlands history in the new millennium. Hämäläinen & Truett propose an examination of borderlands history beyond a traditional view. They point out borderlands history should be studied from the interior of America and its connection with imperial, national, indigenous, and Western U. S. histories and transnational approaches as well.

Mexico’s drugs wars as well as bloody drug cartels are echoed in a controversial folk music genre commonly known as narco corridos or simply as drug ballads. They tell the stories allied to shootouts, drug lords, betrayals including daring criminal operations. Narco corridos are not a new style in Mexican music, in fact, they have been around for years, and they are popular among the old and the young. This genre has evolved to be modern fugitive music that fuses the emotional responses of antique ballads with the tense gravel of mobster rap. From global idols to rural artists documenting their neighborhood current events in the regions subjugated by guerilla war, narco corridos provides the songwriters in their homes with unique but

New Mexico is a southwestern state and was admitted to the union on January 6, 1912. It is the 47th state and considered to be a mountain state. Its culture has been heavily influenced by the aboriginal people as well as colonists. It was home first to the Native Americans, which included the Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo people. It was taken over after the colonization of the Spanish in 1598. Thereafter, it became a part of Mexico and later a US territory. Following the Mexican-American War, it was made a state of North America. New Mexico has the highest number of Hispanics and 2nd highest number of Native Americans in its population. The cultural influences of these groups of people can be seen throughout the state, including on the state flag; the colors gold and scarlet, represent the royal standards of Spain. The sun symbol comes from the Pueblo tribes,

Officials are taking steps to curb illegal immigration which include trying to figure out how to handle the current border crisis. There are many solutions to handle the border crisis. One solution would be to establish new policies to help control the crisis. But before new policies are created this country needs a new Congress. Therefore it would be essential to elect an entirely new set of individuals to Congress. Maybe with a new Congress, they would work together so that they could get something done. It is also important to examine the border security policies and asylum processes of other countries. This would help the United States see how other countries handle the asylum process so that they could determine how the asylum process in this country could change.

Mexican American’s hold a great deal of history with the United States. War and land purchases were major factors that lead Mexicans to the United States. Some current U.S. states were once part of Mexico, where many Mexicans inhabited. Around 1846 there was war between the U.S. and Mexico over the annexation of Texas. The U.S. was victorious over this war and because of land purchases made by the United States, what used to be part of Mexico would now become U.S. territory which included Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Without any real choice in the matter, thousands of Mexican people ended up in the U.S. because of this change in territory. They were given a choice to return to what was left of Mexico or stay in the U.S. and become full U.S. citizens. Many elected to stay and were told that they would be able to keep their land rights, but that was not enforced and many of them lost their land. There was much need in the U.S. for people to fill low wage labor jobs, additional Mexicans came to the US. Many Mexicans worked as ranchers, miners, and herders. There was also issues surrounding racial discrimination and some Mexican Americans were even lynched as a result. When the Mexican revolution ended around 1910, more immigrants came into the United States. Again, there was still a great need for cheap

The 13 million people who live along the United States - Mexican border1 face unique health issues and disparities than their northern and southern residing counterparts. Access to health care is a great health determiner for the many foreign-born residents living in the United States, especially for undocumented immigrants2. The topic to be addressed in this review will include current health issues and accessibility of care for the people living along the US – Mexico border. This study will include infectious diseases, substance abuse as well as issues facing women and children. The combination of many social factors including increased poverty and drug use, limited healthcare and low self-efficacy are all impacting the rates of

America's past is made up of immigrants who have came and formed our country. However illegal immigration has now plagued our economy. What happens when you allow millions into the country, both legally and illegally? Exactly what is happening today? You have tens or hundreds of groups, made up of various nationalities, from various places. Forming themselves into isolated communities, and then trying to get the country to change for them. This paper confirms detailed information on how America is being altered by mass immigration and by uncontrolled illegal immigrants.

According to the independent Center for Immigration Studies, in January 2000 there were 7 million illegal aliens living in the United States and the center estimated that number to grow by half a million a year (Peak, 2009, pg. 245). Based on this fact, the reality is that the minority has turn into a majority and has fulfilled the melting pot. Peak explains that ever since the incident of 9/11 the country has taken precaution and other measures to challenge in protecting borders. This even was a remarkable time of history for many citizens

Throughout history of the United States and Mexican border there has been multiple depths of changes and immigration. From the area trading country ownership to population changes to having a fence line created on it. Seen in Figure1, the U.S.-

Illegal immigration is an increasingly huge issue in the United States. To solve this crisis or at least slow down the rate of illegal immigration, solutions with actions must be put into place. The first step would be to verify citizenship or legal residency for everyone. There should be a national database that can be accessed that would instantaneously verify this information. The federal government should employ Agents to go door to door to procure documentation from each person in a household to verify their citizenship or legal residency and then upload that documentation to the national database. If verification is not readily available, the person should be given 30 days to get the required documentation.

Mexico is bordered by the United States on the north, the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on the east, and Guatemala and Belize on the south. It is characterized by an extraordinary diversity in topography and climate and is crossed by two major mountain chains, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental. The high central plateau between these two mountain ranges historically funneled most of the human population toward the center of this region. Mexico features volcanic peaks, snow-capped mountains, tropical rain forests, and internationally famous beaches. Mexico City is an enormous metropolitan area and dominates the rest of the country's culture, economy, and politics. Nearly