Mexican American History

This course provides a comprehensive historical examination of ethnic Mexicans in the United States. Students first address Native American societies prior to European colonization in order to understand the historical antecedents of Mexican people in the US. Proceeding chronologically, students then examine how the Spanish colonial era, Mexican Independence, and other major events during the nineteenth century shaped the “Mexican American” experience. We also explore the history of Mexican community in the U.S. during the American conquest of the Southwest, the twentieth century immigration experience, and the development of diverse Mexican American communities after 1900. By utilizing primary and secondary sources, we will explore major questions, theory, and research methods pertinent to Mexican American & Chicano/a/x history, including, immigration, xenophobia, ethnic identity formation, gender, articulations of race and labor in urban and rural settings, political activism, and urban cultures.