Midterm Study Guide Flashcards
Manifest Destiny
(19th century)
belief that Americans were destined to expand across North America to spread institutions and culture
used to displace Indigenous populations and Mexican territories
Texas Independence
(1836)
rebellion where Texas settlers fought for independence from Mexico
leading to the establishment of the Republic of Texas
Republic eventually joined the U.S. in 1845, contributed to tensions that sparked the Mexican-American War
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
(1848)
the treaty that ended the Mexican-American war
Mexico ceded a vast amount of territory including CA and the Southwest (CA, TX, NM, CO, AZ)
King Ranch
(1853)
one of the largest ranches in the U.S. established in TX
King family made its initial fortune smuggling goods across the US-Mexico border before rapidly growing a cattle kingdom
Santa Fe Ring
(late 19th century)
a group of powerful Anglo-American lawyers and politicians in New Mexico who controlled land and resources using aggressive tactics
represented Mexicans in court and took their land as legal fees
racial capitalism
a concept describing how economic value is extracted from racial minorities through exploitation
involved labor exploitation of Mexican Americans and other racialized groups
Gorras Blancas
(late 19th century)
a group of Mexican American vigilantes in New Mexico who protested land theft and economic injustice by Anglo-American settlers
they were known for cutting fences and destroying property to protect communal lands
social bandits called “white caps”
restrictionists
people who supported limiting or restricting immigration
believed that Mexicans were unworthy of inclusion in U.S. society because they undercut American labor and were racially inferior
border patrol was established in 1924 as a response to new laws and escalating debate over Mexican immigration between restrictionists and anti-restrictionists
anti-restrictionists
opposed immigration restrictions, advocated for immigrants
but as a source of cheap labor, also considered Mexican immigrants to be racially inferior, undeserving of higher wages
repatriation
refers to mass deportation of Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants, particularly during the Great Depression in 1930s
often based on the belief that they were taking jobs from American citizens
Lemon Grove Incident
(1930s)
a case in Lemon Grove, California, where the local school board attempted to segregate Mexican-American children from white children
a court ruling found this unconstitutional, marking an early victory against school segregation
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
(1929)
founded in Corpus Christi, Texas, stressed the whiteness of Mexican Americans, required U.S. citizenship to join
goal was for Mexican Americans to assimilate into the U.S. mainstream
El Congreso
(1939)
founded by Luisa Morena as “El Congreso de Pueblos de habla Espanola”
first national Latino civil rights assembly, advocated for workers’ rights and against discrimination and deportation
GI forum
Hector Garcia and other Mexican American veterans, founded this new organization to help arrange a military honors burial for Longoria in Arlington National Cemetery
aimed to secure equal rights for Latino veterans and address issues like education, healthcare, and civil rights
Bracero program
a U.S. Mexico agreement from 1942 to 1964 allowing Mexican workers to come to the U.S. on temporary labor contracts (agricultural work)
Braceros were contract laborers from Mexico who worked across the Southwest, often remained in the U.S. after their contracts had expired
Guy Gabaldon
a U.S. Marine of Mexican-American descent who
persuaded hundreds of Japanese soldiers to surrender during World War II, becoming a celebrated war hero despite racial prejudice
known as “Maverick Marine” for his death-defying solo missions
Sleepy Lagoon case
(1942)
LA case where several Mexican-American youths were unfairly convicted of murder
highlights racial biases in the legal system and stirring activism in the Latino community
led to Zoot Suit riots
Zoot Suit riots
(1943)
series of conflicts between white servicemen and Mexican-American youths wearing zoot suits
riots were fueled by racial tensions and negative perceptions of Mexican-American culture and identity
