The Psycho-historical and Socioeconomic Development of the Chicano Community in the United States

1
The Psycho-historical and Socioeconomic
Development of the Chicano Community in the
United States
2
1. What two factors are taken into consideration
by Alvarez in his definition of the generational
experience?

• A. historical period
• B. similar historical experiences
• C. formulate a common view of themseles--self-
  perception

3
2. Mexican people, Alvarez asserts, are a
creation of an imperial conquest. Are there in
fact two major conquests which have shaped the
Chicano experience?

• A. Spanish Conquest 1519-1521, colonial eras
• Results in Indian subjugation, mestizaje,
  ladinoization
• B. United States conquest of Mexico, 1846-1848.
• Results in Chicano incorporation, subjugation
  through economic competitions, resource
  competitions, discrimination, violence

4
3. The conquests of United States were driven by
a singular objective. But the Spanish conquest
sought two primary goals land and souls. What
is your explanation of this and for this?

• Mexican/Spanish policy which encouraged inclusion
  and conversion of Indigenous, resulting in racial
  mixture and social integration through
  conversion.
• American policy segregated Indigenous people
  into reservations, no racial mixture

5
4. Alvarez calls the United States society of
the 19th century the homogeneous society.
Mexican society is called the heterogeneous
society. Be able to distinguish between the two
and explain the differences.

• United States society is dominated by a single
  ethnic group. Mexican society has shown a vastly
  varied ethnic integration. Benito Juarez as an
  example.
• Juarez-desindianizado

6
5. What was the cooperative experience? The
revolutionary experience?

• A. the period of cooperation in Texas during the
  original settlement by Anglo and Mexican
  immigrants due to the need for mutual defense and
  resource, land abundance.
• B. the period of conflict between the Texas
  Revolt and the Mexican American war. 1830s/1840s

7
6. What was the creation generation? The four
factors which played a role in its formation.

• The generational experience during the 19th
  century following the Mexican American war
  through 1900.
• Four Factors a. presence of racist,
  anti-Mexican thought, b. economic and resource
  competitions, c. American familiarity with slave
  systems, d. process of economic and political
  subjugation.
• Collectively created the Chicano socio-economic
  position in American society

8
7. What was the migrant generation? The factors
which characterize this generational experience.

• The generation that arrived in the United States
  from the early 20th century through the 1930s,
  due to the push-pull conditions
• Lands identical-physical characteristics
• Mexicans as free agents no border crossing
  experience. Individual decisions
• Culture, people the same
• Not a new experience for the hosts
• A pre-determined socio-economic position

9
9. What were the push and pull factors?

• Those economic and political factors which caused
  displacement in Mexico and contributed to
  immigration to the United States
• A. Push Mexican Revolution, economic and
  political displacements, economic conditions and
  economic disparities between Mexico and U.S.
• B. Pull the lure of jobs in the U.S.
  agricultural development. Labor necessity in
  U.S.

10
11. Mexicans left a class-based society and
entered caste-like conditions in the United
States. What does Alvarez mean by this?

• United States society utilized racial and
  economic factors to subjugate Mexicans and
  Mexican immigrant workers into lower caste
  positions.

11
12. Be prepared to discuss the distinguishing
factors of the Mexican American generation.

• A. Out-migrations
• B. Assimilationists, acculturationists
• C. Spanish in certain regions
• D. Loyalties to the United States
• E. Optimistic of their gains in the U.S.
• F. Psychically secure.

12
13. Alvarez concludes that the Mexican American
generation was psychically secure as a result of
their perception of their progress. Why was this
a false sense of security, according to Alvarez?

• Behind even Black Americans in every measure of
  socio-economic progress. False security

13
14. Be prepared to discuss the characteristics
of the Chicano generation?

• A. Question American egalitarianism
• B. No trained leaders
• C. Face wide-spread failures
• D. Self-defining
• E. Critical of American society, predecessors
• F. Public minority

14
15. Alvarez asserts that the Chicano generation
faced the prospects of wide-spread socioeconomic
and educational failure and a dismal future. Why

• A. No trained educated leadership
• B. No schools for their specific problems
• C. Lack of advanced education, little future
• D.Little control of their economic and
  educational life.

15
17. In what ways did the Chicano generation try
to rescue itself? What is meant by
self-determination and self definition?

• By redefinition and seizing its future,
• By re-idenfication with Mexican past through
  parents, history, traditions
• By emphasizing the indigenous elements, strength
  of Mexican culture and traditions,
• By asserting a new Mexicanness.