Basic Information
not uncommon to hear Spanish spoken in cities the USA ->1950: 4 million U.S. residents were from Spanish-speaking countriesToday: 27 million
50% of Hispanics in the United States have origins in Mexico
other 50% come from a variety of countries: + El Salvado + the Dominican Republic + Colombia
36% of the Hispanics in the United States live in California
other states:Texas,New York,Illinoise,Florida (Miami: Cubans fleeing the Castro regime have settled)
the term Hispanic was coined by the federal government in the 1970's
most Hispanics see themselves in terms of their individual ethnic identity: as Mexican American, as Puerto Rican,as Cuban,as Latino.
People think of Hispanics as the latest, most recent group to enter the so called 'melting pot'.
Hispanics were the fastest growing group in the U.S., soon to become the largest minority group
Hispanic heritage in the U.S. goes back a long time: when Plymouth was founded in 1620,Santa Fe was celebrating its first decade;St. Augustine its 55th anniversary
Spanish settlements developed in the southwest of today's U.S. and also in the Gulf coast
Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship in 1917-> Reason to go to the USA:Economic depressions,two world wars forced,search for better opportunities
History
there were big civilsation in the past of our times in South America:
+ he Anasazi (New Mexico)
+ the Maya (Central America)
+ the Inca (Peru)
+ the Toltec (Mexico)
+ the Aztec (Mexico)
1492 Cristopher Columbus landed -> called the land 'the Indies,' people 'Indians'
C.C. returned to Spain -> the wave of Eurpean exploration began
made more trips to the area of his discovery and explored portions of modern day Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
In 1498, Vasco de Gama reached India by rounding the southern tip of Africa and sailing across the Indian Ocean. As a result of the achievements of Columbus and de Gama, the Pope divided the Wesern Hemisphere between Spain and Portugal
For almost the next one hundred years, Spain enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the exploration, settlement and development of North and South America
Juan Ponce de Leon, became the first of the Spanish 'advancers' of Columbus's discoveries
1508 he exlored Puerto Rico
1509 Jamaica,Cuba in the years following 1511
1542, Spain had developed a relatively sophisticated system to administer its new lands
During the period of conquest, approximately 300,000 Spaniards had emigrated to the New World
established over 200 cities and towns throughout North and South Americathe colonial society of New Spain was headed by major office holders who were appointed by the Crown
this group controlled the Indian workers and the black slaves imported from Africa (agricultural and mining labor)
Hispanic Americans have been active contributors to U.S. life since before the 13 original colonies declared their independence in 1776
Spanish-speaking people populated much of the Southeast and Southwest before these territories became part of the U.S. Landscape (Spanish colonies of Florida and Louisiana, and the vast expanse of New Spain (present-day states of California, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico)
Reasons To Go To The USA
better living conditions
find a good job -> earn a lot of money
hope for a better live (no poverty, no unemployment)
Real Life Today
discrimination in jobs, housing, and education
Some are also hampered by not having skills that are important for competing in U.S. Society -> f.ex. many new immigrants can not speak or understand English
high rate of unemployment -> high rate of poverty
