The Hispanic Challenge
Historical Presence: No other immigrant group in U.S. history has asserted or could assert a historical claim to U.S. territory. Mexicans and Mexican Americans can and do make that claim. Almost all of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah were part of Mexico until Mexico lost them as a result of the Texan War of Independence in 1835-1836 and the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Mexico is the only country that the United States has invaded, occupied its capital – placing the Marines in the “halls of Montezuma” – and then annexed half its territory. Mexicans do not forget these events. Quite understandably, they feel that they have special rights in these territories. “Unlike other immigrants,” Boston College political scientist Peter Skerry notes, “Mexicans arrive here from a neighboring nation that has suffered military defeat at the hands of the United States; and they settle predominantly in a region that was once part of their homeland…. Mexican Americans enjoy a sense of being on their own turf that is not shared by other immigrants.
Paraphrase I
Historical Presence: There are no other set of people who migrated to the United States in U.S. record has declared positively or could declare a positive chronological claim to U.S. territory. Mexicans and Mexican Americans are capable of and do make that claim. Greater part of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah were once included in the Mexican territory until Mexico lost them as a effect of the Texan War of Independence in 1835-1836 and the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Mexico is the only country that the United States entered for pillage, resided in its capital – placing the Marines in the “halls of Montezuma” – and then incorporated within half its territory. Mexicans do not overlook these events. Quite plausibly, they feel that they have exceptional rights in these territories. “Unlike other people who migrate to the United States,” Boston College political scientist Peter Skerry notes, “Mexicans gets here from a bordering land that has endured military defeat at the hands of the United States; and they settle predominantly in a region that was once part of their homeland…. Mexican Americans take pleasure in being on their own sod that is not distributed by other immigrants.
Paraphrase II
Historical Presence: No other migrant in U.S. record has asserted or possibly will assert a past claim to U.S. territory. Mexicans and Mexican Americans know how to and do make that claim. Mainly part of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah were a fraction of Mexico until Mexico mislaid them as a result of the Texan War of Independence in 1835-1836 and the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Mexico is the only fatherland that the United States has intruded, absorbed its capital – placing the Marines in the “halls of Montezuma” – and then attached half its territory. These events are still fresh in Mexican minds. Fairly understandably, they believe that they have unique privileges in these territories. “Unlike others who move in to the U.S,” Boston College political scientist Peter Skerry notes, “Mexicans land here from a nearby homeland that has suffered military defeat at the hands of the United States; and they inhabit chiefly in a region that was once a portion of their motherland…. Mexican Americans love being on their own grass that is not joint by additional immigrants.
Paraphrase III
Historical Presence: No other settler in U.S. past times has asserted or may perhaps assert a previous allege to U.S. area. Mexicans and Mexican Americans are able and do make that claim. Majority of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah were a fraction of Mexico until Mexico lost them as an outcome of the Texan War of Independence in 1835-1836 and the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Mexico is the only realm that the United States has entered by force for conquest, takes up its capital – placing the Marines in the “halls of Montezuma” – and then appended half its territory. Mexicans do remember these events. Quite reasonably, they sense that they have particular rights in these territories. “Unlike other migrants,” Boston College political scientist Peter Skerry notes, “Mexicans come here from an adjacent land that has experienced military defeat from the United States; and they stay mainly in a region that was once part of their homeland…. Mexican Americans like being on their own soil that is not contaminated by other immigrants.
