Mexicano Contributions to the
Southwest
Chapter 17
Pgs. 233 - 243
17.1 Introduction
• The United States adopted many things from
the Mexican heritage
• Heritage (tradition)- something that is passed
down from previous generations
17.2 Mexicano Mining Contributions
Gold Mining:
Mexicans gave Americans the:
• Batea: The gold pan
• Riffle box: Separated mud and gold
• Arrastra: Crushed rocks so gold could be
removed
17.2 Continued…
Silver and Copper Mining:
• Henry Comstock found silver in Nevada
• Americans looked for Mexicans for help
when they mined for copper in Arizona
17.3 Cattle Ranching
• Cattle were very thin with long horns
The Rancho:
• The main products produced on Ranchos were:
meat hides and tallow (lard)
• Vaqueros (Cowboys) worked there
17.3 Continued…
The Roundup:
• Vaqueros most important jobs were rodeo
and branding
• They branded to see and show which cattle
was theirs so no one would steal them
• This is still done in today’s cattle farming!
17.4 The Cowboy
• American cowboys gained their skills from the
Mexican Vaqueros
Cowboy Clothes and Gear:
• Cowboy hats = sombreros
• Cowboys chaps = chaperreras
• Cowboys boots = botas
• Cowboys ponchos
• Vaqueros created the horn on the saddle
• Vaqueros also created the la riat
17.4 Continued…
Cowboy Lingo:
• The terms Americans Cowboys use come
from Spanish Words
• Example: Ranch came from Rancho
Questions
• Who did American cowboys gain their skills from?
• Describe what Spanish cattle looked like?
• What did Vaqueros do to their cattle to show that they
belonged to them?
• Vaquero is Spanish for what English word?
• Something that is passed down from past generations is
called a what?
• Draw Cowgirl Buzz and label the 5 items that she got from
the Mexican Vaqueros.
• What were the three things that the Mexicans gave to
Americans during the gold rush?
• When the Spanish came to Mexico what did they find
instead of gold?
17.5 Sheep Raising
Two types of sheep raised:
1) Merios
2) Churros
The Spanish Sheep Raising System:
• Americans started raising sheep when they saw
how much money could make
Americans adopt the Spanish System:
• Because of increased sheep raising American
wool production went from 5 to 22 Million
pounds of wool in 18 years
17.6 Irrigated Farming
• When the farmers moved west they had to use
irrigation because it did not rain as much as the
East
The Mexican Style of Irrigation:
• They brought water from streams by creating
dams
• They would fill up a square of crops with water
and when was filled they would make a hole to
spread the water to the next square of crops
17.6 Continued…
America’s Fruit Basket:
• Mexicanos introduced Americans to many
fruits that could not be produced in the East
• Grapes, Olives, Apples, Peaches, Lemons,
Limes, and Oranges
17.7 Mexican Food
The Food Revolution:
• Spanish came to Mexico for gold but instead found
Indian Food
• Corn, Tomatoes, Chocolate, Peanuts, Vanilla,
Beans, Squash, Avocados, Coconuts, Sunflower
Seeds, and Chili Peppers
• Spain took foods from Mexico, but also brought
some of theirs
17.7 Continued…
A New Style of Cooking:
• When they combined Spanish and Indian
food came up with Mexican food
• When Americans adopted Mexican food to
their culture started combining it with
American foods called “Tex-Mex”
Questions
• When farmers moved west, why did they use
irrigation systems?
• What were the two types of Spanish sheep?
• What two types of food were combined in order to
make Mexican food?
• When Americans combined their food with
Mexican food it became known as what?
• What was the main reason that the Spanish
started raising sheep?
• In a paragraph explain how the Mexicano
irrigation system works.
17.8 Spanish-style Architecture
• Homes were created to suit hot, dry climates of
Southwest
Adobe Building:
• Wood was hard to get a hold of so used adobe
bricks
• Adobe: mixture of earth, grass, and water baked
in the sun
• Covered homes with red clay tiles
• Most homes had a patio and a veranda
• Newcomers adopt the Spanish Style
17.8 Continued…
Advantages of Adobe Houses:
• Cooler in summer and warmer in winter
• Can be made from local materials
• 1930’s nearly 1 million adobes were made
• Homes, court-houses, trading post, and post
offices
17.9 Mexican Laws
• American Legal tradition came from English Law
• Mexicano Legal tradition came from Spanish Law
Mining Law:
• Because of all of the miners, America came up
with the “laws of the mines” based on the
Mexican mining laws
• These laws moved throughout America
17.9 Continued…
Water Law:
• East Law: Water that was on a farm or moved
through a farm was that farmer’s water and
could be used anyway they wanted
• Mexican/West Law: water belonged to everyone
and anyone could use it
17.9 Continued…
Community Property Law:
• East Law: Anything that a woman “owned”
belonged to her husband
• Mexican/West Law: “Community Property”
anything that a couple owns will be split in
half if that couple separates
• This law still is in most Western U.S. States
17.10 Mexicano Entertainments
Music and Dancing:
• Mexicano music influenced country and
western music in the Southwest
• Most important influence was the Corridor (A
dramatic story accompanied by guitars)
• Mexican dances have also influenced
America ( La Bamba, Fanadango, and Jota)
17.10 Continued…
Fiestas and Rodeos:
• Largest religious fiesta is the one that honors
Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of
Mexico
• Largest celebrated holiday is El Cinco de
Mayo (the Fifth of May)
• Rodeos are a big part of Mexican tradition
and that has also spread into American
culture
Questions
• What is the largest celebrated holiday in Mexico?
• In order to make an Adobe brick, what three materials are
needed?
• What are the two advantages of an Adobe house?
• Adobe homes were created to suit what types of climates in
the Southwest?
• Who have Mexican dances influenced?
• The Largest Religious holiday in Mexico is to honor Our Lady of
what?
• In a paragraph please explain the difference between the
Water Laws in the East and the Mexican /West.
• In a paragraph please explain the difference between the
Community Property Laws in the East and the Mexican/West.