Summary

Today there are still a great number of people migrating, both legally and illegally, into the Unites States from Mexico. Beginning with the Spanish conquest and early Mexican settlers of North America, Mexican Immigrants goes on to describe notable events such as Mexico’s independence from Spain and the U.S.-Mexican War. Examining 21st-century challenges presented to Mexican Americans and applauding their many great influences, this engaging volume concludes with a discussion of Mexican Americans in the present day, including the friction between new and older immigrants; the new immigrants’ emphasis on ethnic identity; success stories in politics, sports, business, and education; and the impact that Mexican-American music and cuisine have had on U.S. society.

History covered includes:

• Migration of Mexicans between 1850 and 1900
• The increase in legal and illegal Mexican immigrants
• How the Great Depression increased the government’s prosecution of illegal aliens
• The role of Mexican Americans in World War II and the labor movement
• The political power of Mexican immigrants and their impact on presidential elections
• Education of undocumented immigrants.
• The attraction of Mexican migrant workers to growing U.S. agriculture.

Specifications

20-30 black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Approximately 2 maps. Index. Bibliography. Glossary. Timeline. Further reading. Box features.

About the Author(s)

Richard Worth holds a B.A. and a M.A. from Trinity College where he studied colonial American history and is currently a volunteer teacher of writing to third and fourth graders. His book, Gangs and Crime, was included on the New York Public Library’s 2003 Best Book for the Teen Age list. Worth is the author of several books for young adults, including Henry VIII, Westward Expansion, Manifest Destiny, The Spanish Inquisition, American Slave Trade, and Plantation Life.