Mexican-Origin People in the United States: A Topical HistoryThe history of the United States in the twentieth century is inextricably entwined with that of people of Mexican origin. The twenty million Mexicans and Mexican Americans living in the U.S. today are predominantly a product of post-1900 growth, and their numbers give them an increasingly meaningful voice in the political process. Oscar J. Martínez here recounts the struggle of a people who have scraped and grappled to make a place for themselves in the American mainstream. Focusing on social, economic, and political change during the twentieth century—particularly in the American West—Martínez provides a survey of long-term trends among Mexican Americans and shows that many of the difficult conditions they have experienced have changed decidedly for the better. Organized thematically, the book addresses population dynamics, immigration, interaction with the mainstream, assimilation into the labor force, and growth of the Mexican American middle class. Martínez then examines the various forms by which people of Mexican descent have expressed themselves politically: becoming involved in community organizations, participating as voters, and standing for elective office. Finally he summarizes salient historical points and offers reflections on issues of future significance. Where appropriate, he considers the unique circumstances that distinguish the experiences of Mexican Americans from those of other ethnic groups. By the year 2000, significant numbers of people of Mexican origin had penetrated the middle class and had achieved unprecedented levels of power and influence in American society; at the same time, many problems remain unsolved, and the masses face new challenges created by the increasingly globalized U.S. economy. This concise overview of Mexican-origin people puts these successes and challenges in perspective and defines their contribution to the shaping of modern America. |
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Contents
Natives and Immigrants | 1 |
Contours of Mexican Immigration | 23 |
The Scourge of Racism | 49 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Mexican-origin People in the United States: A Topical History Oscar J‡quez Mart’nez Limited preview - 2001 |
Mexican-Origin People in the United States: A Topical History Oscar J. Martínez Limited preview - 2021 |
Mexican-Origin People in the United States: A Topical History Oscar J. Martínez Limited preview - 2001 |
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activists African Americans agricultural Ameri Angeles Anglo areas Arizona Aztlán barrios became border Bracero Program California Census centers Chávez Chicano Chicano Movement Chicano/a cities civil rights continued cultural decades discrimination dominant economic El Paso elected employers employment ethnic European Ameri European American Farm farmworkers García González Greaser growers Hispanic Business History industries large numbers Latinos/as lived LULAC mainstream major ment Mexi Mexican American Studies Mexican Americans Mexican extraction Mexican immigrants Mexican Labor Mexican-descent Mexican-origin population Mexican/Mexican American Mexicans and Mexican Mexico middle class Midwest migration million movement numbers of Mexicans organizations Paso percent percentage political railroad Repatriation San Antonio sectors segregation significant social Southwest Spanish Spanish-speaking Spanish-surname strike Tejanos/as tion Tucson twentieth century U.S. Census Bureau U.S. citizens U.S. Congress U.S. government U.S. Supreme Court undocumented union United University of Texas urban voters voting wages women World War II York