Designed to encourage critical thinking about history, the Major Problems in American History series introduces students to both primary sources and analytical essays on important topics in US history. This collection is designed for courses on Latina/o history.
Omar Valerio-Jimenez is Associate Professor of History at the University of Iowa, where he teaches courses on Latinas/os, immigration, borderlands, and the American West. He received his S.B. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. His first book, River of Hope: Forging Identity and Nation in the Rio Grande Borderlands (Duke University Press, 2013), explores state formation and cultural change along the Mexico-United States border during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. He has won fellowships from the Clements Center for Southwest Studies at Southern Methodist University, the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego, the Western History Association, and the Newberry Library. His next project is a transnational study of the U.S.-Mexican War that examines memory, identity, and civil rights. Carmen Teresa Whalen is Professor of History and Latina/o Studies at Williams College, where she has also served as the Chair of the Latina/o Studies program and as the Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity. She teaches courses on comparative Latina/o history, im/migration, and Latinas in the global economy. She received her B.A. from Hampshire College and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. She is the author of From Puerto Rico to Philadelphia: Puerto Rican Workers and Postwar Economies (Temple University Press, 2001), as well as a photographic history, El Viaje: Puerto Ricans of Philadelphia (Arcadia Publishers, 2006). She is co-editor of The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Historical Perspectives(Temple University Press, 2005), and has also published articles and book chapters. Her current research focuses on Puerto Rican women, New York City's garment industry, and garment workers' unions in the post-World War II era.
1. LATINA/O HISTORY AND LATINA/O STUDIES. ESSAYS: "From Chicana/o and Puerto Rican Studies to Latina/o Studies," Pedro Cabán; "From Borderlands to the Transnational," Maria Josefina Saldana-Portillo; "Confronting Diversity in Latina/o Studies," Frances R. Aparicio. 2. AMERICAN CONQUEST AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. DOCUMENTS 1. Mexican military officer criticizes Mexicans and Anglos in Texas, 1828 2. Tejanos support North American immigration, 1832 3. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo establishes rights for Mexicans in the annexed lands, 1848 4. Congress Debates Incorporating Mexicans, 1848 5. Mexican Liberal Manuel Crescencio Rejon Opposes the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) 6. Los Angeles Board of Land Commissioners confirms Mexican woman's land title, 1852 7. California Spanish-language newspaper mourns Californios' land loss, 1857 8. San Antonio's former mayor Juan Seguin identifies himself as a "foreigner in my native land," 1858 9. Eulalia Perez describes relations with Indian women in mid-nineteenth century California, 1877. ESSAYS: "Tejanos and the War of Texas Secession in 1836," Raul A. Ramos; "Californians' Loss of Land After U.S. Annexation in 1848," Miroslava Chávez-Garcia. 3. LIFE IN THE BORDERLANDS. DOCUMENTS 1. Sarah Garcia Clay seeks a divorce from an interethnic marriage in Texas, 1856 2. New Mexico's Territorial Supreme Court redefines debt peonage as a contractual relationship, 1857 3. A French Catholic Priest describes anti-Mexican views among Anglo-Texans, 1858 4. Antonia Diaz marries in Mexico but divorces in Texas, 1859 5. Juan N. Cortina defends Tejanos' sacred right of self-preservation, 1859 6. Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton approves of intermarriage between Mexicans and Anglo Americans, 1867 7. Anglo-American Newspaper Characterizes Mexican Texans as Thieves, 1867 8. New Mexico's ruling places women under coverture, 1875 9. New Mexican Judges racialize New Mexicans, 1898 ESSAYS: "Mexican Married Women, Peons, and the Remains of Feudalism," Maria E. Montoya; "Getting Un-hitched along the Rio Grande: Mexicans, Anglos, and Divorce," Omar Valerio-Jimenez. 4. 1898: U.S. IMPERIALISM, CONQUERED TERRITORIES, AND AMBIGUOUS CITIZENSHIP. DOCUMENTS 1. Jose Marti Explains Why Cuba Fights for Independence from Spain, 1895 2. New York Times Article Reveals Desire to Take Puerto Rico as a "Permanent Possession," 1898 3. Eugenio Maria de Hostos Expresses Concerns About U.S. Intentions in Puerto Rico, 1898 4. Major General Nelson A. Miles Declares U.S. Military Occupation for "Liberty," 1898 5. Political Cartoon Portrays U.S. Attitudes toward Cuba and Puerto Rico, 1898-1900 6. U.S. Congress Debates Puerto Rico's Future and its Status, 1900 7. Foraker Act Defines "Citizens of Porto Rico," 1900 8. Puerto Ricans Taken to Hawaii as Contracted Workers, 1900 9. Platt Amendment to Cuba's Constitution, 1902 10. Conditions for Puerto Rican Workers in Hawaii, 1903 11. Supreme Court Defines Ambiguous Status for Puerto Ricans coming to the U.S. Mainland, 1904; 12. Plaintiff Isabel Gonzalez Voices Demands for Puerto Rico, 1905 ESSAYS: "U.S. Imperialism Limits Self-Government in New Mexico and Puerto Rico," John Nieto-Phillips; "Defining a Limited and Ambiguous U.S. Citizenship for Puerto Ricans," Sam Erman; "U.S. Political and Economic Imperialism Shapes Cuban Communities in the U.S.," Gerald Poyo. 5. EARLY PAN-LATINO COMMUNITIES. DOCUMENTS 1. Latinos Form a Cigarmakers Union in Philadelphia, 1877; 2. Cubans Lay Groundwork for Pro-Independence Group in Florida, 1891 3. Afro-Cuban Club Established in Tampa, 1900 4. Father Antonio Casulleras Describes Philadelphia's Community, 1910 5. Afro-Puerto Rican Arturo Schomburg Begins Archives on African Diaspora, 1911 6. Colombian Novelist Alirio Diaz Guerra Contrasts Protagonist's Homeland and New York City, 1914 7. Luis Munoz Rivera Criticizes Second-Class Citizenship for Puerto Ricans, 1914 8. U.S. Congress Declares All Puerto Ricans as U.S. Citizens, 1917 9. Bernardo Vega Describes New York City's Pan-Latino Community, 1916-1918 10. Cuban-American Jose Yglesias Recalls Growing Up in Tampa ESSAYS: "Afro-Cubans and African-Americans in Ybor City and Tampa," Nancy Raquel Mirabal; "Philadelphia's Pan-Latino Enclaves and Puerto Rican Migration," Victor Vázquez Hernández. 6. LABOR RECRUITMENT AND COMMUNITY FORMATION IN THE WORLD WAR I ERA. DOCUMENTS 1. U.S. Government Proposes Labor Recruitment of Puerto Ricans, 1917 2. Lieutenant James 'Jim' Europe Recalls Recruiting Puerto Rican Musicians, 1917 3. Writer and Activist Jesus Colon Confronts Working Conditions in New York City, 1919 4. Mexican immigrant Elias Sepulveda argues for immigration quotas, 1926-27 5. Chicago Newspaper calls for Pan-Latino unity, 1928 6. Alfred P. Thom characterizes Southwestern industries as dependent on Mexican labor, 1928 7. Mexicans describe relations with African Americans and European immigrants in Chicago (1928) 8. George P. Clemens claims Mexicans are genetically suited for agricultural labor, 1929 ESSAYS: "Afro-Puerto Rican Musicians in the U.S. Army and in New York City," Ruth Glasser; "Mexican Immigrants and the Development of the American Southwest," David G. Gutierrez; "Becoming Mexican in Chicago through Transnational Practices," Gabriela Arredondo. 7. THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND DUBIOUS CITIZENSHIP. DOCUMENTS 1. Mexican immigrants in Rockdale, Illinois, ask for voluntary repatriation, 1930 2. Newspaper Article Insults Puerto Rican New Yorkers, 1930 3. California Alien Labor Act prohibits hiring foreigners, 1931 4. Mexican Consul Rafael de la Colina support voluntary repatriation, 1931 5. Carlotta Silvas Martin Remembers Growing Up During the Great Depression in Arizona, 1930s 6. New York Times Describes Harlem Riot, 1935 7. Bernardo Vega Recalls the Harlem Riot and its Consequences, 1935 8. Congressman Vito Marcantonio Defends Puerto Rican New Yorkers, 1935-37 9. Puerto Rican Oscar Garcia-Rivera Elected to New York State Assembly, 1937 10. Writer Piri Thomas Depicts The Impact of the Great Depression on His Family and Harlem, 1941 ESSAYS: "Puerto Ricans' Encounters with Race in Depression-Era New York City," Lorrin Thomas; "Mexicans' Tenuous Citizenship," Natalia Molina. 8. RACE, GENDER, AND CONTINUING MIGRATION IN THE WORLD WAR II ERA. DOCUMENTS 1. Los Angeles Times Criticizes Female Zoot Suiters, 1943 2. California Eagle blames white mobs for attacking African American zoot suiters, 1943 3. Photo of Pachucas, 1943 4. Washington Post concerned that Puerto Ricans cannot be deported, 1944 5. Afro-Cuban Melba Alvarado Recalls Establishing "a club for people of color," in the Bronx, 1945 6. Elena Padilla criticizes conditions for domestic workers in Chicago, 1946 7. Policy maker promotes women's migration as population control, 1947 8. Washington Post reveals bias against Puerto Ricans in New York City, 1947 9. Carmelo Bermudez Recalls Leaving the Sugar Cane Fields of Puerto Rico to Work in the Steel Mills of Lorain, Ohio, 1948 10. Historian Virginia Sánchez Korrol Reminisces about Being "Raised Irish Catholic" during the 1940s 11. Scholar Ernesto Galarza criticizes the Bracero Program, 1956 ESSAYS: "Youth and the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles," Luis Alvarez; "Puerto Rican Women and Migration," Carmen Teresa Whalen; "Mexican and Puerto Rican Labor Migration during and after the War," Lilia Fernandez. 9. BUILDING COMMUNITIES IN THE POSTWAR ERA. DOCUMENTS 1. Educator Leonard Covello Urges "Mutual Respect" for Puerto Ricans, 1947 2. Mexican-American GI denied burial in Texas, 1949 3. Editorial Cartoon Accuses Three Rivers Burial Home of Bigotry, 1949 4. Photo of American G.I Forum float at a Veteran's Day Parade in Dodge City, Kansas (1950s) 5. Opponents of public housing decry "creeping socialism" in Los Angeles, 1951 6. Los Angeles Residents Voice Support and Opposition to Proposed Development of Chavez Ravine, 1951 7. Antonia Pantoja Recalls Founding of Aspira, 1961 8. Community Leaders Condemn Second Class Citizenship of "All Minority Groups," 1962 9. Andres Torres Reflects on Being "A Hearing Son and His Deaf Family," 1960 ESSAYS: "Puerto Rican Youth Activism in Postwar New York City," Lorrin Thomas; "Defending Chavez Ravine in Postwar Los Angeles," Ronald W. Lopez II. 10. THE COLD WAR AND CUBAN MIGRATION. DOCUMENTS 1. U.S. Government Provides Assistance for Cuban Refugees, 1961 2. Maria de los Angeles Torres Recalls Her Experience in Operation Pedro Pan, 1961 3. U.S. Government Describes Cuban Children in Exile, 1967 4. The Cuban Jewish Community in South Florida, 1969 5. Washington Post Calls Attention to Gay Cubans, 1980 6. From Golden Exiles to "Bad Press" for Cubans, 1980 7. Local Floridians Respond to New Wave of Cubans, 1980 8. Writer Reinaldo Arenas on Being Cuban and Gay, 1980 9. Journalist Mirta Ojito recalls arriving during the Mariel boatlift, 1980 10.On the Relationships between Afro-Cubans and White Cubans, 2000 ESSAYS: "Exiles, Immigrants, and Transnationals," Maria Cristina Garcia; "Gay Cubans Challenge U.S. Immigration Policies during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift," Susana Pena. 11. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND SELF-PROCLAIMED IDENTITIES. DOCUMENTS 1. "'I am Joaquin' Voices Chicano Movement's Goals," 1967 2. First Chicano National Conference Reclaims Aztlán, 1969 3. Journalist Describes the Origins and Activism of the Chicago Young Lords, 1970 4. The Young Lords Define Their Platform, 1970 5. Chicanas Assert a "Revolution Within a Revolution," 1972 6. Esperanza Martell on "Getting Political" and Starting The Latin Women's Collective, 1975 7. Cuban Youth Promote Dialogue with Cuba, 1978 8. Segments of Cuban Community Respond Violently to Dialogue with Cuba, 1980 9. Writer Achy Obejas Describes Generational Conflicts in the Cuban Community ESSAYS: "Puerto Rican Activism Bridges Homeland and Barrio Politics," Carmen Teresa Whalen; "CASA: From Mutual Aid Society to Chicano Marxist Organization," Ernesto Chávez; "Pluralization, Radicalization, and Homeland in Cuban Politics," Maria de los Angeles Torres. 12. DOMINICAN IMMIGRATION AND TRANSNATIONAL LIVES. DOCUMENTS 1. U.S. State Department Promotes Visas for Dominicans to Come to the United States, 1962 2. Immigration Act of 1965 Shapes Dominican Immigration Networks, 1979 3. Dominicans' Undocumented Status Shapes Their New York City Lives, 1971 4. Dominican Republic Newspaper criticizes Dominican New Yorkers, 1971 5. Writer Sherezada 'Chiqui' Vicioso discovers her identity as a caribena during the 1970s,(1989) 6. Writer Junot Diaz Depicts a Father's Migration Experience, 1996 7. Young Dominican Woman Recounts Her Migration and Work Experiences, 1998 8. Felicia Diaz describes Dominican-American political activism, 2003 ESSAYS "Between Santo Domingo and Washington Heights," Jesse Hoffnung-Garskof; "Dominicans Meet Puerto Ricans in Waterbury, Connecticut," Ruth Glasser; "Dominican Women, Like Puerto Rican Women, Confront Garment "Sweatshops" at Home and in New York City," Carmen Whalen. 13. THE 1980S: U.S. INTERVENTION AND CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRATION. DOCUMENTS 1. Associated Press Reveals Debate over Salvadorans' Status, 1981 2. Churches Launch Sanctuary Movement for Central American Refugees, 1982 3. Nursing Student Describes Persecution in El Salvador, 1985 4. Salvadorans and Guatemalans Explain Their Reasons for Leaving Home, 1986 5. U.S. Government Labels Salvadorans as "Illegal Aliens," 1987 6. Nicaraguan Woman Recounts Her Undocumented Journey to Los Angeles, 1988 7. Activists' Lawsuit Wins New Asylum Hearings for Salvadorans and Guatemalans, 1991 8. Poet Maya Chincilla Searches for Home, 1999 9. Victor Montejo Describes His Life as a Maya, a Refugee, and an Anthropologist, 1999 ESSAYS "Central American Wars, U.S. Interventions, and a Refugee Crisis," Maria Cristina Garcia; "Salvadorans Challenge the U.S. Label of 'Illegal Aliens'," Susan Bibler Coutin. 14. CONTINUING IMMIGRATION DEBATES. DOCUMENTS 1. California's Proposition 187 Seeks to Deny Education and Non-Emergency Health Care to Undocumented Migrants, 1994 2. Newspaper Reveals Debates over Proposition 187, 1994 3. Rescued Cuban Child, Elián González, Sparks Immigration Debate, 1999 4. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Announces "Criminal Worksite Enforcement Operation" in Iowa, 2008 5. A Court Interpreter Reflects on the Arrests of Undocumented Guatemalan Workers in Iowa, 2008 6. Costa Rican Student Marie Nazareth Gonzalez Testifies in Congress in Support of DREAM Act, 2007 7. Congress Debates the DREAM Act, 2010 8. Rody Alvarado Describes Domestic Abuse in Guatemala, 1996 9. Guatemalan Woman Obtains Asylum For Spousal Abuse, 2009 10. Arizona Enacts Immigration Restriction Legislation, 2010 11. Arizona-type legislation creates labor shortages in Georgia, 2011 ESSAYS "Immigration Reform and Nativism," Leo R. Chavez; "Cuban Immigration and the Persistence of Special Treatment," Ted Henken. 15. PAN-LATINO IDENTITIES. DOCUMENTS 1. Latina/o students at Williams College go on hunger strike, calling for Latina/o Studies, 1991 2. March on Washington for Immigrant Rights Draws Diverse Latina/o Supporters, 1996 3. Journalists describe Generation X Latinos, 1999 4. Congressman Luis Gutierrez Links Amnesty for Undocumented Migrants and Peace in Viequez in a Chicago Speech, 2001 5. Patrick Herbert describes a Pan-Latino nightclub atmosphere, 2002 6. Williams College faculty votes to establish Latina/o Studies program, 2004 7. Colombian Performer, Shakira, the Latin Grammys, and Latina/o Popular Culture, 2006 8. Immigrants Create "International" Soccer League in St. Louis, 2008 9. U.S. Census depicts Latino diversity, 2010 ESSAYS: "Pan Dulce: A Queer Pan-Latino Space," Horacio N. Roque Ramirez; "U.S. Latinos and Futbol Nation," Christopher A. Shinn; "Latino panethnicity among Latinas in Queens, New York," Milagros Ricourt and Ruby Danta.