TomMilesABQ-Albuquerque Historical Timeline

Mexican Immigration Through New Mexico And The Southwest – Transcript

Hi, my name is Tom Miles, and this video is an overview of Mexican immigration patterns and history through New Mexico and the southwest.  This video uses the Albuquerque Historical and Cultural Timeline as an organizing device.  The red line runs through historical events in the U.S., Mexico, and New Mexico over time.  It’s important to note that whole libraries of research and stories exist for each of the individual dates, topics, periods, and eras that are covered only briefly in this ‘view from 30,000 feet.’

We begin with the period from 1400 to 1650
In the 1400s, some 40,000 Pueblo Indians live in the Nuevo México area.  They had built early apartment structures seen in Chaco Canyon and Bandelier and complex irrigation systems.  Petroglyph and jewelry artifacts revel that New Mexico Indians traded with Mexico and California for well over 1,000 years.  In 1536, the Spaniard, Cabeza de Vaca mentions a populous country to the north with big houses and luxury goods.  In 1539, Franciscan Priest Marcos de Niza and the black Moor Estevan lead an exploratory expedition north seeking the fabled 7 cities of Cibola.  In 1543 and 1546, major silver mines in Zacatecas, Mexico, pull Spanish and Mexican miners and explorers and technology north.  By the 1570s, México City’s population has reached 15,000 and supports a university; more than 20,000 imported African slaves are required.  In 1598, Juan de Oñate extends El Camino Real northward by 700 miles, and creates the first permanent Spanish settlement in Nuevo Mexico and Franciscans begin establishing early missions.  In 1608, King of Spain makes Nuevo México a Spanish Royal Province and gives Franciscans formal permission to create missions here.  In 1630, more rich silver mines are found further north in Chihuahua, on the Camino Real stimulating further trade and population movement northward

1650 to 1800
In 1687 Jesuit missionaries expand into the Arizona area and the Pimería Alta, which will create future commercial markets for Nuevo México.  And by 1720 Nuevo Méxicanos begin annual trading trips to Chihuahua and Durango.  In 1763, the treaty of Paris gives Spain control of the Louisiana Territory.  In 1776, Spanish Bourbon King Charles III creates the military General Commandancy of Nuevo España to protect (explain) northern mining from English and U.S. incursion.  The territory includes Nuevo México and Arizona areas.

1800 to 1860 begins with a flurry of activity
In 1800, Spain cedes New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory to the French. Three short years later, the U.S. purchases the Louisiana Territory from France. Seven years later, in 1810 México claims independence from Spain. There are large debates over whether to become a monarchy or a republic – at that time Mexican territory extended from Guatemala to Oregon. In 1821, the Mexican Republic opens trade with U.S, and the Santa Fe Trail opens trade to the eastern U.S..

In 1835, Anglo Texans rebel against the Mexican government and create the Lone Star Republic, and in 1845, the U.S. annexes Texas, which Mexico declares an act of war, triggering the Mexican-American War. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the war, with the U.S. taking New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave Mexican citizens one year to choose U.S. citizenship and the vast majority does so.  The Territory of New Mexico is created in 1850, which then included Arizona.  Massive loss of territory creates economic problems in Mexico. The Gadsden Purchase of 1854 averts another war with Mexico and adds 45,000 square miles to southern New Mexico and Arizona.  The 1849 California gold rush begins drawing population from the east and from Mexico.  Many Mexicans with mining skills had already moved throughout what at the time was just “northern Mexico.”

1860 to 1900
In 1879, the railroad begins drawing Mexican workers north into New Mexico and they mix with Chinese laborer immigrants and African-American laborers freed in the Civil War.  Also in the 1880’s, low worker pay begins drawing major capital investment and new technology to northern Mexico and opens modern mining and agricultural enterprises.  In 1882, the U.S. Chinese Exclusion Act dramatically reduces Chinese immigration for 60 years.  Similar restrictions on Mexicans had not yet been created until the 1930’s Mexican Repatriation Program and Operation Wetback in 1954.

1900 to 1960
In the 1900’s, Mexican social and economic conditions worsen causing many Mexican citizens to migrate to the U.S.  Interesting New Mexico asides include 1911 New Mexico Alien Land Act prohibiting Asians from owning land; 1912 New Mexico becoming the 47th state; and 1916 Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa, raiding in southern New Mexico.  An estimated 10% of the Mexican population is killed in infighting during the 1910-1917 Mexican Revolution.  Then from 1917 to 1930, ongoing political and economic breakdowns continues to stimulate Mexican migration to the U.S.

From 1929 through 1937, the great U.S. depression causes a massive Mexican Repatriation Program.  Some 400-500,000 Mexicans leave the U.S. due to high unemployment, fear of deportation, and encouragement by welfare agencies and the Mexican government.  Many were legal residents and U.S. citizens.  Five years later, and for 22 years, from 1942 to 1964, the U.S. Bracero ‘guest worker’ wage and working condition agreements with the Mexican government during WWII provided some 300,000 Mexican Braceros as labor resources.  Employer use of illegals soon begins worsening wage and working conditions.  In response in 1952, Cezar Chavez begins his 25-year campaign for civil rights for workers and Hispanics.  In 1954, the Eisenhower administration implements “Operation Wetback” in the southwest and an estimated three million Mexicans are deported.  The Christian Science Monitor reported that, “The rise in illegal border-crossings … has been accompanied by a curious relaxation in ethical standards extending all the way from the farmer-exploiters of this contraband to the highest levels of the Federal Government.”

1960 to 2009
In 1964, the Bracero Program gives way to the Maquiladora Program aimed at utilizing lower wages and looser working conditions south of the border.  The program continues into the present time.  In 1965, the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act ushers in immigration of people with needed skills or close relatives of U.S. citizens – and this includes those relatives living in Mexico.  1994 brings about the North American Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, easing trade, tariffs, and some immigration.

In 2000, globalizing corporations move many Maquiladora jobs out of Mexico to Taiwan, China, South America, and East Asia.  In 2005, California passes the Apology Act for the 1930s Mexican Repatriation Program, officially recognizing the “unconstitutional removal and coerced immigration of Unite States citizens and legal residents of Mexican descent.”  2008-09 worldwide economic turmoil begins returning Maquiladora jobs to Mexico, and a second, informal, Mexican Repatriation begins due to U.S. depression slowdown, and loss of jobs.

And here are a couple of intriguing closing thoughts:
•    In 1910, foreign born were 14.7% of the population
•    In 2003, foreign born had dropped by 20% to 11.7% of the population
•    Today’s typical U.S. woman bears 1.93 children; this is below the 2.1% “replacement” rate required to keep a population stable over time with no new immigration

I’m hoping that in some way, this contributes in a positive manner to today’s immigration dialog.

© Tom Miles  July 2009