¿Quiénes Hablan Español? Who Speaks Spanish? Parte 1: Los Chicanos (Mexican Americans)

¿Dónde? (Where?) (WY) (CA) (NV) (UT) (NM) (UT) (AZ) (TX) (CO)

¿Por Qué? (Why?) Reason #1: Because these states were once a part of Mexico (which was a colony of Spain), there are is still a strong Mexican influence in this area.

¿Por Qué? (Why?) Reason #2: Plain, old proximity. The U.S. and Mexico share a long border. Many Mexican people come to the United States (legally and illegally) to find jobs and a higher standard of living.

¿Cuándo? (When?) Before 1500’s 1810 1500 Let’s take a look at the timeline. 1500’s Before 1500 1810

Before 1500 1500’s 1810 Prior to the 1500’s a variety of Native Navajo Pueblo Apache Prior to the 1500’s a variety of Native tribes lived in the southwest United States and Mexico. Hopi Aztecs Mayans Before 1500 1500’s 1810

Los Conquistadores Before 1500’s 1810 1500 Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico in 1519 and conquered the Aztecs and their emperor, Montezuma II. La Batalla de Otumba 1500’s Before 1500 1810

This began 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico and the Southwest U.S. Los Conquistadores This began 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico and the Southwest U.S. 1500’s Before 1500 1810

1810-1821- Independence 1810 Before 1500 1500’s Mexico declared independence from Spain, and these became Mexican states and territories. 1810 Before 1500 1500’s

1836- Remember the Alamo? Many settlers from other parts of the U.S. had moved into Texas living under the rule of Mexican dictator Santa Ana. These settlers rebelled against Santa Ana, and won independence for Texas from Mexico. Texas remained independent until 1845, when it became the 28th state in the United States. 1836 1848 1853 By User BoNoMoJo on en.wikipedia (Personal pic) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

1848- Mexican Cession The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War. Mexico gave CA, NM, AZ, parts of CO, UT, (a bit of) WY, and NV to the United States. Gen. Zachary Taylor pictured on a white horse at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican-American War The Granger Collection, New York 1848 1836 1853

The United States acquired the rest of Arizona and New Mexico. 1853- The Gadsden Purchase The United States acquired the rest of Arizona and New Mexico. 1853 1836 1848

Texas became the 28th state in 1845. U.S. Statehood- Texas Texas became the 28th state in 1845. 1845 1864 1850

U.S. Statehood-California Californiabecame the 31st state in 1850. Texas became the 28th state in 1845. 1850 1864 1845

U.S. Statehood- Nevada Californiabecame the 31st state in 1850. Texas became the 28th state in 1845. Nevada became the 36th state in 1864. 1864 1845 1850

U.S. Statehood- Colorado Californiabecame the 31st state in 1850. Texas became the 28th state in 1845. Colorado became the 38th state in 1876. Nevada became the 36th state in 1864. 1876 1896 1890

Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890. U.S. Statehood- Wyoming Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890. 1890 1896 1876

U.S. Statehood- Utah Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890. Utah became the 45th state in 1896. 1896 1890 1876

U.S. Statehood- New Mexico Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890. Utah became the 45th state in 1896. New Mexico became the 47th state in 1912. 1912

1912 U.S. Statehood- Arizona Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890. Utah became the 45th state in 1896. New Mexico became the 47th state in 1912. Arizona became the 48th state in 1912. 1912

Here's what you need to know for the test: #1: Since CA, NV, NM, AZ, CO, UT, and a bit of WY were once part of Spain, then Mexico, there are a lot of Spanish speakers of Spanish/Mexican descent there. (Please know the postal abbreviations too!)

Here's what you need to know for the test: #2: There are many Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrants in CA, TX, AZ, and NM because they are just across the border from Mexico. Many are legal immigrants. Many are illegal immigrants. This is an ongoing controversy in the United States.

Photo Attribution All photos are from Microsoft Clip Art or are in the Public Domain except: Alamo: By User BoNoMoJo on en.wikipedia (Personal pic) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons