Some Historical Perspectives on the Presence of Chicanos in American History
Dr. Andres Tijerina provides a historical perspective on several issues concerning Chicanos today. He explains the issue of land grants date back to the 1800s, when the Mexican government gave land in the Southwest to its citizens. Today, however, much of those lands are in the hands of Anglos who often cheated or violently coerced Mexicans into giving up their claims. Despite the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which guaranteed Mexican landholdings, religion and culture, the U.S. government has rarely supported Chicano claims to land or protected their right to speak Spanish.
While Tijerina does acknowledge that during the battle for the Alamo the Mexican army massacred Anglo soldiers, he argues that the history taught in public schools has presented a biased history, which holds Mexican civilians, many of whom aided the Anglos, responsible for the violence. Moreover, in the years after the Alamo, Anglos murdered thousands of Mexican American men, women and children.
Tijerina explains that despite these incidents of violence and discrimination, Mexican Americans have served the United States loyally and valiantly in World War 2, during which they volunteered at much higher numbers than other ethnic group and emerged with distinction and decoration. Yet, despite their patriotism and their service, Chicano servicemen continued to face discrimination.
KEYWORDS
1848Anti-Mexican Violence
Atrocities
Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of the Alamo
Bilingual Education
Catholicism
Chicano Culture
Chicano Military Service
Chicano Soldiers
Citizenship
Department of Welfare
Discrimination
Goliad
History
Honor
Involuntary Land Sales
Jose Antonio Menchaca
Juan Nepomuceno Seguin
Land Exchange
Land Grants
Land Theft
Lynching
Marines
Masculinity
Medals and decorations
Mexican Army
Mexican War
Mexican-American War
Military Service
Paratroopers
Patriotism
Sgt. Felix Longoria
Southwestern States
Tejanos
Texas Revolution
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The US-Mexican War
Three Rivers
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Victoria County
Violence
World War II Chicanos