There is a rich and diverse history of American Hispanics and Latinos. It has records of immigrants, refugees, and indigenous people living in the United States before the nation’s establishment. With them, they brought the traditions and cultures from several countries like Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, etc. Today the Hispanic population in America continues to grow and has hit the record of 62.5 million as of 2020, making it 18.7 of the US population. In this post, we will discuss and understand some of the major Hispanic and Latino events.
Learn About The Milestones Of Latinos In Brief
Though numerous events took place in the history of Latinos, the below pointers explain the major ones.
1. Early Explorers From Spanish Made Their Appearance In America
On April 2, 1513, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de Leon dismounted on the coast of Florida to claim the territory in the name of the Spanish crown. In 1521, native Americans attacked his party and forced them to retreat to Cuba. Leon died there. And then later, on May 1, 1718, a Spanish priest named Father Antonio Olivares started the first mission in San Antonio, Texas. The mission, popularly known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, intended to convert Native Americans to Christianity. In 1835, this site turned into a fort of rebellion.
2. The Establishment Of Los Angeles & First Hispanic Congressman Elected
On August 24, 1821, Mexico’s independence from Spain was established, and it began inviting some non-American settlers to the state of Texas. They became impressed with the low-priced land. Then 13 months later, on September 30, 1822, Joseph Marion Hernandez got elected as the first Hispanic member of Congress, who served until March 3, 1823.
3. The Mexican-American War, The Battle Of The Alamo
On March 6, 1836, During a 13-day siege, General Antonio Lopez Santa Anna and 1,000 or more Mexican soldiers raided the Alamo, killing the majority of the Texans inside, including future heroes Davy Crockett, James Bowie and Lt. Col. William Travis, as well as others who had already given themselves up. The Texas militia finally achieves independence and adopts the rallying cry, “Remember the Alamo!” The United States annexed Texas in 1845.
4. Revolution In Mexico That Drived Immigration To The US
The violent Mexican Revolution (1910-1917) drives a significant increase in Mexican immigrants crossing the US border, with El Paso becoming a major entry point. By 1930, the Mexican immigrant population had tripled from 200,000 to 600,000. On February 5, 1917, Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917, despite President Woodrow Wilson’s veto. This act restricts immigration and bans most Asian countries while introducing literacy tests and excluding individuals with criminal records, contagious diseases, alcoholism, epilepsy, and anarchists.
5. The US Citizenship Granted To Puerto Ricans
On March 2, 1917, The Jones-Shafroth Act, which grants Puerto Ricans citizenship and establishes a bicameral legislature in the island territory, was signed by President Wilson. It also gives America a bastion and enables Puerto Ricans to enlist in the US Army as the country prepares to enter World War I. Eventually, 20,000 Puerto Ricans were conscripted to fight in the war, many of whom were tasked with protecting the crucial Panama Canal.
6. Sworn In The First Hispanic Senator
On December 7, 1928, The nation’s first Hispanic senator, Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo of New Mexico, took the oath of office. The Republican lawyer, born in Mexico, moved to the US as a child. Before deciding to compete for the US Senate, he spent one term as governor of New Mexico before winning two elections to the state House of Representatives. However, his stay in Washington was brief. In January, he became quite ill and left for New Mexico, where he passed away on April 7, 1930.
7. The Civil Right Acts, 1964
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the momentous Civil Rights Act of 1964, banning bias based on race, sex, religion, color, or national origin. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is established by the act to uphold federal laws against employment discrimination. The measure immediately ended segregated facilities that limited Black and Hispanic Americans’ usage to specific sections.
8. The Delano Grape Strike Under The Precedence Of Cesar Chavez
On March 17, 1966, the National Farm Workers Association general director, Cesar Chavez, began a march 340 miles from Delano, California, to the state capitol in Sacramento. This march was intended to bring the grape growers’ demands to attention. Later that summer, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee combined with the National Farm Workers Association to become the United Farm Workers Union, a member of the AFL-CIO.
We Are On A Mission To Keep The History Alive!
As a section of the 501(C)3 nonprofit Amigos N Progress, a Hispanic Information Project, Hola Texas contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our goal is to preserve Hispanic history while documenting new historical occurrences and figures with a Latino link. And to draw attention to the groups and individuals fighting to ensure the same community advances. A monthly print periodical with North Texas circulation will disseminate this information. Information will also be accessible online via podcasts and video. To put it briefly, we’ll remain the most popular bilingual journal for Latinos in North Texas and beyond.