Description
The Mexicanos populated the West before the arrival of the pioneers,
forty-niners, mormons and Chinese immigrants. Unlike the Native American
groups that had been living in the region for centuries, the Mexicanos were
descedents from the Spanish. Mexico declared their independence from Spain in
1810 just like the United States declared their independence from England in 1776.
Before the Western expansion of the United States, the area of land which is
now California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah was owned by
Mexico. Both Mexicanos and Native Americans lived in the region.
Internet Links
When the Treaty of Guadalope Hidalgo was signed in 1848, many towns long the
border were divided. Before the treaty, these lands all belonged to Mexico
and the people were Mexican citizens. When the treaty was signed in 1848,
all the people living in the area now concerned the United States
automatically became U.S. citizens. This picture from 1849 shows the town
of Nogales which was divided by the treaty: Half of the town become Nogales,
Arizona, United States; the other half became Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
Nogales
In the late 1700s, the Spanish operated 21 missions in California. The
Spanish originally created the missions to help control this huge area of
land in the New World (what is now Mexico and much of the West in the US).
These missions helped spread the population and culture of the Spanish.
Just as the United States revolted from England, Mexico revolted from
Spain.
After the revolution, Spain's lands become Mexico's, including what is now
much of the western United States.
In the following links you can learn more about the missions, see a mission
and talk to some of the people there. Notice that there were Native
Americans at the missions; find out why there were involved and how they
felt
about it.
Who created the missions? And Why?
Tour a mission
Meet the People: Padres, Soldiers, and Native Americans
This time line from the "Ayer y Hoy" shows important events in the history of
Mexican Americans in the United States.
Timeline of Mexican-Americans
Read the biographies of 4 Mexican American citizens from the 1880s.
*This page is also available in Spanish.
Biographies
This map of North American was drawn by a French cartographer (map maker) in
1820. The area outlined in green is Canada, red is the United States and
yellow is Mexico. Mexico declared their independence from Spain in 1810.
Map - 1820
Other Resources