SPH245 - Hispanic Heritage in the Southwest

The American Southwest is rugged, beautiful, and filled with American History. It lures visitors with red-rock canyons, Old West legends, Spanish and Native American cultures, and wonderful national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Arches National Park, Big Bend National Park, and Carlsbad Caverns.

This region is loosely defined and has never been standardized, but it always includes Arizona and New Mexico, as well as portions of Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California, and Texas. Contrary to many people’s image of the American Southwest — that it is a sprawling desert — it is one of the most geographically diverse regions in the United States. From the Rocky Mountain landscape to dramatic red rock bluffs and mesas to the flatlands of the Rio Grande, the landscape is varied and surprising.

It is also home to a beautiful and vibrant mix of Anglo, Latino, Hispanic, and Native American traditions that make diverse, interesting, and picturesque opportunities to see and experience history, landscape, and culture. - Legends of America. 

The history of Hispanics in the Southwest United States is wide-ranging, spanning more than four hundred years of American colonial and post-colonial history ¹. Here are some key points:

1. Early Exploration and Settlement: Spanish explorers, beginning with Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s expedition in 1540-42, encountered settled communities and deserted ruins ². States such as California and Colorado take their names from Spanish, as do state capitals including Sacramento and Santa Fe (New Mexico), as well as hundreds of cities, towns, and the nearby rivers and mountain ranges ³.

2. Mexican-American War: Hispanics (whether criollo, mulatto, afro-mestizo, or mestizo) became the first American citizens in the newly acquired Southwest territory after the Mexican–American War ¹. They remained a majority in several states until the 20th century ¹.

3. Post-War Period: From 1819 to 1848, the United States and its army increased the nation’s area by roughly a third at Spanish and Mexican expense, gaining among others three of today’s four most populous states: California, Texas, and Florida ¹.

4. Modern Era: America’s Hispanic population continues to grow, reaching a record 62.5 million in 2020, or 18.7 percent of the U.S. population ⁴.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the articles on the History of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States and Hispanic History Milestones: Timeline. These sources provide a comprehensive overview of the rich and diverse history of Hispanics in the Southwest United States.

Learn more:   1.  en.wikipedia.org   2. legendsofamerica.com   3. cambridge.org

What happened to the original Hispanic settlers of the American Southwest? The American Southwest, a region which includes most of the region of the Mexican Cession like New Mexico, California, Nevada, Colorado as well as Texas, is a diverse mix of Anglo-Americans, Hispanics and various indigenous groups such as the Apache, Comanche, Navajo and Puebloans. Before Texan independence and the American annexation of Northern Mexico, a couple hundred thousand Hispanic settlers of Spanish and Mestizo origin called this region home along with a smaller number of Hispanicized natives. After the annexation by the United States, these Hispanics became US citizens and have a very interesting history contributing to the unique cultural fabric found in this part of the country. In today's video we're going to be discussing the history of these first Hispanics in America so let me know your thoughts on these different groups such as the Nuevomexicanos, Californios, Tejanos, Floridianos and Islenos of Louisiana (not discussed in the video). Masaman -  Jun 21, 2024.