The Mexican American in the History of the United States II
Prof. I.J. de la O
Section# 1028 Spring 2015
Email: idelao@elcamino.edu
Course Overview:
This course concentrates on the historical evolution of the Chicano in nineteenth and twentieth century
America. Discussion centers on the participation, contributions, and experiences of and by the Chicano
community. Major areas include the historical socio-political, economic and educational struggles of
Mexican-Americans since the mid-19th century. Topics include the Mexican American Southwest, the
post war conflict, American Expansionism, Westward Movements, U.S. Treaties of Cahuenga &
Guadalupe Hidalgo, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Mexican Revolution, immigration, the Great
Depression, Desegregation struggle, American Nativism, Mexican Repatriation and Deportations, WWII,
Zoot-Suit Riots, Acculturation period, Bracero Program, Mexican American Labor Movement, Chicano
Movement, and the Post Civil Rights Era. This course fulfills the state graduation requirement in U.S.
History and state and local government. This course also fulfills (US-1) of the CSU American Institutions
Requirement.
Objectives:
*Evaluate the impact of United States Hegemony through its institutions (socio-political, economic, and
religious) on the Chicano population in American society since the 19th century.
*Analyze the complexities of the historical events, e.g., Texas-Mexico War, U.S. Mexico War, U.S.
Treaties with Mexico, U.S. Land grabbing, their major causes and consequences on the Mexican
American communities during the Post-War period throughout the U.S. Southwest.
*Appraise the economic and labor development and consequent displacement of the Chicano people
and their economic and social subordination in American society.
*Examine and critically analyze the marginalization and disenfranchisement of the Mexican American in
the U.S. Southwest.
*Examine and apply the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to Mexican Americans
*Analyze American nativism and xenophobia, as violations of constitutionally guaranteed and protected
civil liberties.
*Assess the fundamental contradictions between democratic values, principles and ideals versus
institutionalized forms of inequality, unfairness, intolerance and bigotry.
*Analyze state government repression on dissent and on American civil liberties
*Identify and assess the impact of American racial attitudes on United States society during the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries with emphasis on the Mexican American experience.
*Evaluate the impact of the United States conquest of northern Mexican America on the economic, legal
and political status of American Indians, Mexicans, Blacks and European Americans in the American
West during the late nineteenth century.
*Identify the causes of the American Civil War and describe the influence of the Mexican War on this
conflict.
*Analyze the era of industrialization in United States history with emphasis on its impact on Americans
of Mexican descent.
*Outline and discuss patterns of global immigration to the United States in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries with emphasis on Mexican immigration.
*Analyze the cultural effects of early twentieth century Americanization programs on immigrants
including Mexicans in the United States.
*Assess the impact of the Great Depression on American life including Mexican nationals living in the
United States.
*Identify and describe the changes to American society that took place during and after World War II in
the family, gender roles and expectations of ethnic and racial minorities including Chicano.
*Analyze the goals of the 1960’s civil rights movement with emphasis on Chicano/Mexican American
society.
*Compare and contrast United States domestic politics, foreign policy and American society from the
Vietnam War to the present including changes in the status of the Mexican-American population.
Student Learning Outcomes: Describe and analyze, in a written assignment, using a critical historical
viewpoint, how struggles around social, economic, and political forces have shaped the traditional and
contemporary Chicano Diaspora
ADA Statement:
Los Angeles Valley College is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with
disabilities upon the timely request by the student to the instructor. A student with a disability, who
would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying herself/himself to the
instructor & to Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). To make arrangements for academic
accommodations, contact the SSD.
Required Books:
Republican Protestantism in Aztlan by E.C. Orozco
Recommended Readings:
From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in the Twentieth Century America by Vicki L. Ruiz
Grading:
2 Quizzes based on assigned readings & lectures (50pts each)
Chapter Presentation
Class participation and discussion
Article response journal
Final
Chicano Historical Research Project
Total Possible Points
100pts
75pts
25pts
100pts
200pts
100pts
600pts
Grade Scale: A 600- 540, B 539- 480, C 479- 420, D 421- 380, F 379- 0
NO TEXTING IN CLASS
Course Outline
Week 1:
Chicanos in the United States – Southwest and Beyond
Overview of course content
The authors’ themes & interpretations
Introduction and framework of analysis
Cultural/Historical background of the Chicano
Workshop: How to Read and Summarize an Article
Read: Bering Strait
Read: Chapter 3
Video: Music of Latin America
Week 2:
United States interest in Spanish and Mexican America
Early filibustering
Texas Wars of 1825 & 1836: Legacy for Chicano History
Texas Republic
Workshop: How to do a Historical site paper
Read: Tensions Mount in Texas
Read: Chapter 4
Week 3:
U.S. expansionist sentiments-- California and New Mexico
The Mexican American War, 1846-1848
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
American Southwest
Political, social, sconomic, and cultural subjugation of La Raza in California, New Mexico, Texas and
Arizona
Film: San Patricios
Read: Chapter 5
Read: The San Patricio Deserters in the Mexican American War
Week 4:
Mexican American contributions to the development of the region
The Great Migration
The Mexican Immigrant era
The Mexican returns north, adaptation and survival in the United States
Labor Rights Movements
Video: Zootsuit (changing family dynamics)
Read: Joaquin Murrieta; Tiburcio Vasquez: A Chicano Perspective by Jose Burciaga
Read: Chapter 6
Week 5:
Contributions of immigrant era
The depression
Immigrant life in the United States
Gender, Family, Cultural issue Group activity (Based on reading From Out of the Shadows)
Decade of Betrayal-Repatriation
Read: From Out of the Shadows (read both parts)
Read: Envisioning Victims and Creating Saviors: Colonialist Representations of Mexican Repatriation in
Mainstream American Newspapers, 1931-1933 by William F. Costley
Read: Sterilization in the Name of Health: Race, Immigration, and Reproductive Control in Modern
California by Alexandra Minna Stern (article summary)
Read: Chapter 7
Week 6:
WWII and its Aftermath
The rise of the Mexican American
Beginnings of cross-cultural experience
Read: Chapter 8
Read: Hispanic Americans and World War II: (for in-class discussion select a hero/heroine and
summarize their experience during the war)
Update on Historical site project
Week 7:
Zootsuiters, Braceros and war heroes
Chicanismo, group diversity, levels of group awareness and de-Mexicanization
Beginnings of the Chicano Movement; causes; ideologies; impact
Chicano and the Civil Rights Movement
The Four- Horsemen
Read: Chapter 9
Read: The Pachuco Era by Dan Lukenbill
Read: The Chicano Movement: Mexican American History and the Struggle for Equality by Carlos Munoz,
Jr. (article summary)
Historical Research Paper Due
Week 8:
Chicano cultural renaissances
The legacy of the Chicano Movement
The Chicano Today
Social, Economic, Political and educational challenges
Recap and Review for Final Exam
Final
Note: If you are encountering any difficulties throughout this 8 week course, please do not hesitate to
let me know!