Chicano and Chicana History

CES 255, WS 255 & Hist. 255

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2:50pm-4:05pm

 Spring Semester 2005

Office Hours T TH 12-1pm

Professor José M. Alamillo

Wilson Hall 120

(509) 335-4793

alamillo@wsu.edu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will explore the historical experiences of the Mexican-origin population in the United States from the Spanish colonial era (1521-1821), Mexican period (1821-1949) and to American period (1848-1945). A major focus will be the historical development of the Mexican American communities in Texas and California but will examine the Pacific Northwest region where many have also migrated, worked, played, and settled down. The course is organized chronologically and uses a comparative regional approach to better understand how the Mexican American experience varied across different states and in relation to other racial and ethnic groups. The main themes to be covered include conquest and colonization, uneven capitalist development, immigration and migration, work and labor resistance, racialization and gendering processes, ethnic identity and cultural change, religion and mass culture and popular culture, gender relations and sexuality.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

·         Develop critical thinking skills, through classroom exercises, discussions and writing assignments, in order to evaluate the historical experiences of the Mexican Americans in the United States.

·         Introduce students to primary documents and write a research paper using primary sources (archival and oral sources).

·         Broaden students’ understanding on the writing of history and the politics surrounding the interpretation of the past.

 

COURSE TEXTBOOKS:

Main Textbooks:

1. Zaragoza Vargas, ed., Major Problems in Mexican American History

(Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999)          [MAH]

2. Vicki Ruiz, From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in 20th Century America

(Oxford University Press, 1998)               

 

Book Monographs:

1. David Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, 1836-1986

(Austin: University of Texas Press, 1987).

2. George Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture and

 Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945 (Oxford University Press, 1993)

 

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

Attendance

It is to your benefit to come to class regularly. As suggested above you are allowed three absences with no questions asked. If after that you will miss class due to college approved extracurricular activities you should bring copies of a form, signed by the official sponsor of the activity (e.g., coach) noting the dates that you will be absent. If you miss class due to a family emergency, illness, mandated court appearances and the like submit a written explanation of your absence or contact The Office of Student Affairs (Lighty 360, 335-4531).

 

Participation: (20%)

Your participation is important. I expect you to contribute to class discussions and to participate actively in individual and group activities. You will need to be able to speak about themes addressed in class in an informed and fluent manner. Keep in mind that you cannot engage in a dialogue nor pose thoughtful questions unless you complete the assigned readings in a timely fashion, before each class. Your participation should not be based on frequency but on the quality of your contribution.

 

· Research Paper (40%)

Students will write a 15-20 page research paper using both primary and secondary sources on a topic related to the history of Mexican Americans in the United States. A list of topics will be posted and distributed as well as guidelines on how to write a history research paper. The topic and sources will have to be approved by the instructor.  Each student is required to submit their topic by Feb. 1st as well as a list of secondary and primary sources, which will be due on March 1st and a research paper outline on March 31st and a research paper draft on April 12th and the final paper on the last day of class, April 28. This requirement meets one of the course goals by developing critical writing skills and using primary documents to better understand the Chicano/a historical experience.

 

· Take Home Examinations (40%)

Each student must complete a midterm and final exam to pass the course. All exams will be take home essay exams. There will be no substitute work, alternate exam dates, or make-up exams without documented illness or emergency.

 

Final Grading Scale:                                     Grade Evaluation:

100% - 95% = A                                   Participation…………………………..……20%

94% - 90% = A-                                   Midterm Exam……………………………..20%

89% - 87% = B+                                   Research Paper…………………………….40%

86% - 84% = B                         Final Exam………………………………….20%

83% - 80% = B-

79% - 77% = C+

76% - 74% = C

73% - 70% = C-

69% - 67% = D+

66% - 64% = D

63% and below = F

 

Special Notes:

* You written work may be used for assessment purposes and department learning outcomes.

* The instructor reserves the right to modify and make any changes to the syllabus during the semester.

* You are recommended to use the “My WSU” webpage. [my.wsu.edu]

* Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Contact the DRC in the Admin. Annex 206 (5-1566).

*Academic Dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication in the process of completing academic work. If caught students we be punished according to university guidelines: WAC 504-25-015

 

COURSE SCHEDULE:

 

Tuesday, Jan. 11: Introductions

 

Thursday, Jan 13: Interpreting the Chicano Past: Chicano Historiography

ESSAYS: Gonzalez and Fernandez, “Alternative Approaches to Chicano History” & Saragoza, “Recent Approaches to Chicano History” MAH [2-20]

 

PART ONE:     SPANISH AND MEXICAN SOCIETY BEFORE 1900

Tuesday, Jan. 18: PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

ESSAYS: Vélez-Ibáñez, “Cultural Roots of Ancient Southwest Indians” and

Carroll Riley, “The Indians of the Southwest in 1492” MAH [39-53]

DOCUMENTS: “A Franciscan Friar Describes the Land and People of New Mexico” MAH[31-33]

 

Thursday, Jan. 20: SPANISH CONQUEST OF TEXAS

ESSAYS: Poyo and Hinojosa, “Spanish Texas and Borderlands Historiography” MAH [83-89]

DOC.: “Captain Pierre Marie Francois de Pagés Reports on Early Settlements in Texas” MAH (65-69] “

 

Tuesday, Jan. 25:  SPANISH CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA

ESSAY: Castañeda, “Sexual Violence and the Politics of Conquest in Alta California” MAH [54-61].DOC: Jean Fracois La Pérouse Describes the Mission Indians of Carmel, California” MAH (71-72)

 

Thursday, Jan. 27:  SPANISH CONQUEST OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

ESSAY: David Weber, “The Spanish Moment in the Pacific Northwest” [CES]

 

Tuesday, Feb. 1st:  THE MAKING OF TEXAS

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Introduction [1-21]

                                                Research Topic Due

 

Thursday, Feb. 3:  TEXAS INDEPENDENCE, 1836-1848

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 2 [24-49]

DOC.: “Eulalia Yorba Gives an Eyewitness Account of the Siege of the Alamo, 1836”

MAH [99-191]

 

Tuesday, Feb. 8:  AMERICAN CONQUEST OF TEXAS, 1848-1900

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 3 [50-70]

DOC.: “Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo”[136-140]; “Juan Cortina Calls Texas Mexicans to Armed Resistance, 1859” MAH[154-156]

 

Thursday, Feb. 10th: AMERICAN CONQUEST OF TEXAS, 1848-1900

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 4 [75-99]

ESSAY: De León, “Life for Mexicans in Texas after the 1836 Revolution” in Vargas [167-175]

 

Tuesday, Feb. 15: AMERICAN CONQUEST IN CALIFORNIA

ESSAY: Pitt, “The Origins of Nativism in California” MAH [157-162]

DOC.: “John Hittell Reviews Mexican Land Claims in California, 1857” [151-154]

 

Thursday, Feb. 17:  AMERICAN CONQUEST OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, 1848-1900

ESSAY: Gamboa, “The Mexican Mule Pack System of Transportation in the Pacific Northwest” [CES]                                         DISTRIBUTE MIDTERM EXAM

 

Tuesday, Feb. 22: VIDEO: TBA

 
                                                MIDTERM EXAM DUE

                                                           

PART TWO:     20th CENTURY CHICANO HISTORY

 

Thursday, Feb, 24: ORIGINS OF MEXICAN IMMIGRATION

BOOK: Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American, Chap. 1 “Farewell Homeland”

BOOK: Ruiz, From Out of the Shadows, Chap.1 “Border Journeys”

DOC. “Victor S. Clark Comments on Changes in Mexican Immigration to the United States, 1908”

In Vargas [204-207]

                                               

 

Tuesday, March 1: IMMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA

BOOK: Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American, Chap. 2 “Across the Dividing Line”

And Chap. 3 “Newcomers in the City of Angels

                                                Research Bibliography Due

 

Thursday, March 3: IMMIGRATION TO TEXAS

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 5 [106-128]

 

Tuesday, March 8:  DISFRANCHISING TEXA MEXICANS

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 6 [129-155]]

 

Thursday, March 10:  IMMIGRATION TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

ESSAY: Gamboa “Mexican Migration to Washington State” [CES]

 

March 14-18  SPRING BREAK

           

Tuesday, March 22: “THE MEXICAN PROBLEM”

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 7 & 8 [162-196]

 

Thursday, March 24:  CONTROLLING MEXICAN LABOR

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 9 [197-219]]

 

Tuesday, March 29: CULTURE OF SEGREGATION IN TEXAS

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapter 10 &11 [220-254]

 

Thursday, March 31:  AMERICANIZATION OF IMMIGRANTS

BOOK: Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American Chap. 4 “Americanization and the Mexican Immigrant”

BOOK: Ruiz, From Out of the Shadows Chap.1 “Confronting ‘America’”

DOC.: “Merton Hill Outlines a Program for Americanizing the Mexicans, 1931” MAH [249-252]

                                                Research Outline Due

 

Tuesday, April 5: MEXICANIZATION OF IMMIGRANTS

BOOK: Sánchez, Chap. 5 Becoming Mexican American “The ‘New Nationalism” Mexican Style”

ESSAY: Zamora, “Mexican Voluntary Organizations of South Texas” MAH [222-232]

 

Thursday, April 7: NEGOTIATING POPULAR CULTURE

BOOK: Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American Chap. 8 “Familiar Sounds of Change: Music and Mass Culture”

BOOK: Ruiz, From Out of the Shadows Chap.3 “The Flapper and the Chaperone”

DOC. “Elisa Silva Describes Mexican Immigrant Life in Los Angeles, 1920s” MAH [252-253]

 

Thursday, April 14:     DEPRESSION AND REPATRIATION

BOOK: Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American Chap. 10 “Where is Home?: The Dilemma of Repatriation”

DOC.: ““Carey McWilliams Assails Mexican Repatriation from California, 1933” and “Philip Stevenson Describes the Deportation of Jesus Pallares, 1936” MAH [274-282]

Tuesday, April 12

 

 

            Research Paper Draft Due

 

Tuesday, April 19: LABOR RESISTANCE

BOOK: Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American Chap. 11 “Forging a New Politics of Opposition”

BOOK: Ruiz, From Out of the Shadows Chap. 4: “With Pickets, Baskets and Ballots”

DOC.: “Emma Tenayuca Reminisces About Labor Organizing in San Antonio, Texas, 1936-1936” [282-285]

 

Thursday, April 21: BECOMING MEXICAN AMERICAN

BOOK: Sánchez, Becoming Mexican American Chap. 12 “The Rise of the Second Generation”

 

Tuesday, April 26 MEXICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS

BOOK: Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, Chapters 12 & 13 [262-307]

 

Thursday, April 28      FINAL RESEARCH PAPER DUE

                                    DISTRIBUTE FINAL EXAM

 

Friday, May 6th           FINAL EXAM DUE