Hispanic American History

Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick foreign policy, encapsulated by the proverb "speak softly and carry a big stick," advocated for peaceful negotiations backed by the threat of military force. This approach aimed to expand American influence, particularly in Latin America and the…

"The Big Stick in the Caribbean Sea" is a 1904 political cartoon by William Allen Rogers. It illustrates President Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick Diplomacy, portraying him as a colossal figure wielding a massive club through the Caribbean. It symbolizes America's military and political power.

The Annexation of Texas was the process by which the Republic of Texas joined the United States. Although Texas had voted for annexation after gaining independence from Mexico in 1836, the U.S. delayed due to concerns about upsetting the balance between free and slave states. Despite this obstacle…

The Texas Revolution (October 1835-April 1836) was a conflict between American settlers in the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas and the Mexican government. It led to Texas's independence. Tensions escalated due to Mexico's centralized rule, restrictions on American immigration, and its…

The 1828 Treaty of Limits was a significant agreement between the United States and Mexico that established their shared border. It reaffirmed the boundary set by the 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty. While intended to prevent future disputes, Mexico viewed the U.S. recognition of Texas's independence…

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a dangerous confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. This intense standoff was triggered by the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. Such a direct menace to American interests propelled the Cold War adversaries to the precipice of nuclear…

Proclamation 3447, issued by President John F. Kennedy on February 3, 1962, established an embargo on all trade between the United States and Cuba.

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba, Volume VI is a collection of U.S. government documents detailing the shift in U.S.-Cuban relations from 1958 to 1960. It focuses on the Cuban Revolution, the fall of Fulgencio Batista's government, and the early years of Fidel Castro…

Law #3 of the Sierra Maestra on Agrarian Reform aimed to redistribute land to the landless peasants. This law established the principle of granting ownership to tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and squatters, while providing compensation for landowners. It allowed for the free distribution of land up…

Issued from Fidel Castro's rebel base in the Sierra Maestra mountains, the Sierra Maestra Manifesto was a crucial document of the Cuban Revolution. It aimed to rally support against the Batista dictatorship by promising a return to the 1940 Constitution, free elections within a year of Batista…

"History Will Absolve Me" was a two-hour-long speech delivered by Fidel Castro on October 16, 1953. It served as a defense during his trial for his attack on the Moncada Barracks. More a political manifesto than a legal argument, Castro used the trial to condemn the oppressive regime of…

The 1934 Treaty of Relations was an agreement between the United States and Cuba. It reflected President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy of non-intervention in Latin America. The most significant aspect of the 1934 treaty was its abrogation of the Platt Amendment, which had…

The Platt Amendment was a key piece of legislation that governed the relationship between the United States and Cuba. It limited Cuba's sovereignty by granting the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. It also required Cuba to lease or sell land for American naval bases, most notably…

The Teller Amendment was a declaration stating that the United States would not annex Cuba after liberating it from Spain. Proposed by Senator Henry M. Teller, it aimed to reassure the American public and the international community that U.S. intervention in Cuba was to establish Cuban independence…

This political cartoon depicts future President James Buchanan and a group of men who appear to be thieves. These figures use quotations from the Ostend Manifesto to justify their actions of robbing Buchanan.

The Ostend Manifesto was a 1854 document that urged the United States to forcefully acquire Cuba from Spain. Driven by Southerners seeking to expand slavery and maintain political power, the manifesto argued for Cuba's annexation due to its location, weather, and potential rise of a slave…

In his "Ripe Fruit" Theory, John Quincy Adams argued that Cuba, then a Spanish colony, would gravitate toward the United States once its unnatural connection with Spain was severed. Comparing Cuba to a ripe fruit, Adams argued that the laws of political gravitation would bring the island…

The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) was a free trade agreement among the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. This agreement aimed to eliminate tariffs and trade barriers on goods, services, and…

The Washington Consensus was a term coined by economist John Williamson to describe a set of economic policies promoted by the IMF, World Bank, and U.S. Treasury. These policies were aimed at developing countries facing economic crises. They advocated for free-market principles and reduced state…

The Alliance for Progress was a major foreign aid initiative by President John F. Kennedy. It aimed to promote economic development, social reform, and democratic stability in Latin America. Driven by Cold War anxieties and the desire to stop the spread of communism, the ten-year program sought to…

The Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) is the document that established the OAS. It also defines its core mission, principles, and structure. It aims to strengthen peace and security. It also seeks to promote representative democracy, prevent conflicts, and ensure the peaceful…

The Rio Treaty is a security pact among nations in the Americas. Born out of World War II and the early Cold War, it aimed to establish a common defense mechanism to maintain regional peace. However, its practical application and relevance have faced scrutiny and challenges.

This poster advocates for better relations with Latin American countries. It features a prominent yellow map of the Americas against a light blue background, with the call to action "Strengthen GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY" in red and dark blue text across the top and middle.

The Good Neighbor Policy, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America. It emphasized non-intervention in the affairs of Latin American nations, mutual respect, and economic cooperation through trade agreements. This policy…

This political cartoon, created and published by Louis Dalrymple in 1905, illustrates the Roosevelt Corollary foreign policy. It depicts a large, stern-faced Theodore Roosevelt, perched atop a massive naval cannon labeled "U.S." on a battleship.

The Roosevelt Corollary was a significant expansion of the Monroe Doctrine. It declared that the United States had the right to intervene as an international police power in the Western Hemisphere. This meant that if Latin American nations engaged in chronic wrongdoing, such as political…

The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy statement declaring that the Americas were closed to European colonization. It asserted a sphere of influence for the United States. It also promised U.S. non-intervention in European affairs in return for Europe's non-interference in the Americas.…

In his address in Mobile, Alabama, President Woodrow Wilson articulated a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America. He declared that the United States will never again seek territorial conquest in the region. He aimed to move away from previous imperialistic tendencies,…

Clifford Berryman's political cartoon "Separated," published in the Washington Post, illustrates the congressional debate over Puerto Rican governance. Following its acquisition from Spain after the Spanish-American War, the question was whether Puerto Rico should be subject to the U.S.

Victor Gillam's 1899 cartoon critiques the imperialist concept of the same name by depicting John Bull (Britain) and Uncle Sam (U.S.) as they struggle to carry baskets filled with caricatured non-white peoples up a steep hill.

"Uncle Sam's New Class in the Art of Self-Government" is a political cartoon by W.A. Rogers. It satirizes American imperial expansion after the Spanish-American War.

"The Cuban Melodrama" is a political cartoon by C.J. Taylor that depicts the escalating tensions between Spain, Cuba, and the United States before the Spanish-American War.

The Plan of San Diego was a revolutionary manifesto drafted by Mexican and Tejano rebels. It aimed to spark an armed uprising in the Southwestern region to create an independent Hispanic republic, with the possibility of annexation by Mexico. The plan called for a "War Without Quarter,"…

The 1968 Fasting Statement was a declaration by Cesar Chavez upon concluding his 25-day water-only fast. Undertaken as a spiritual act and a commitment to nonviolence, Chavez's fast aimed to reaffirm the United Farm Workers' (UFW) peaceful principles. It served as penance for any violent…

The 1984 Commonwealth Club Address, delivered by Cesar Chavez, was a speech that highlighted the poor working and living conditions faced by farmworkers due to pesticide exposure and poverty. Chavez reaffirmed the United Farm Workers' commitment to nonviolent resistance as the path to justice…

The Spiritual Plan of Aztlán served as a cornerstone document for the Chicano Movement. It outlines a vision of self-determination, cultural pride, and freedom for Mexican Americans. This manifesto drew upon Aztlán, the legendary ancestral home of the Aztecs. It served as a rallying cry for…

El Plan de Santa Bárbara was a 155-page document crafted by the Chicano Coordinating Council on Higher Education at the University of California, Santa Bárbara. It served as a blueprint for establishing and developing Chicana/o Studies programs across U.S. colleges and universities. It also laid…

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, was an important piece of legislation that abolished the discriminatory national origins quota system, which had previously favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe. It established a system prioritizing…

In 2022, the Supreme Court addressed whether Congress's exclusion of Puerto Rico residents from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program violated the Fifth Amendment. In an 8-1 decision in United States v. Vaello Madero, the Court held that it did not. The majority opinion reasoned that…

Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle was a U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed whether Puerto Rico and the federal government are separate sovereigns under the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The case arose after two individuals were prosecuted by federal and Puerto Rican authorities for…

Torres v. Puerto Rico was a U.S. Supreme Court case that established that the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures apply to Puerto Rico. The case arose when Terry Torres was subjected to a warrantless and suspicionless search of his luggage at a Puerto…

Puerto Rico v. Shell Co. was a key U.S. Supreme Court case that clarified the application of federal antitrust law to Puerto Rico. The case arose when Puerto Rico charged Shell Co. with violating its local antitrust law. Shell argued that the federal Sherman Act preempted Puerto Rico’s law,…

The 1901 Supreme Court case DeLima v. Bidwell marked the first of the Insular Cases. The dispute originated when the DeLima Sugar Importing Company contested the import taxes on sugar shipped from Puerto Rico to New York. The company argued that since Puerto Rico was transferred to U.S. control in…

The case of Downes v. Bidwell began in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York. Merchant Samuel Downes contested the constitutionality of tariffs levied on goods from Puerto Rico under the Foraker Act. He claimed these duties violated the Constitution’s Uniformity Clause. The…

Balzac v. Porto Rico was a U.S. Supreme Court case that held that the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial does not apply in unincorporated U.S. territories. Jesús M. Balzac, a newspaper editor, was convicted of criminal libel and denied a jury trial under local law despite being a U.S. citizen…

Botiller v. Dominguez was a U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed the validity of Spanish and Mexican land grants in California following the Mexican-American War. Dominga Dominguez sued to recover Rancho Las Virgenes, based on an 1834 Mexican land grant. However, the grant had never been…

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. Created by middle-class Mexican Americans to fight racial discrimination and promote civic engagement, LULAC has worked to advance the economic, educational,…

Delgado v. Bastrop Independent School District was a landmark federal court case in Texas that challenged the segregation of Mexican American students in public schools. Filed by Minerva Delgado and other parents with support from civil rights groups like LULAC and the American G.I. Forum, the case…

Proclamation 3869, issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson, established National Hispanic Heritage Week to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States in culture, business, science, and military service. The week was timed to coincide with the independence anniversaries of…

The Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty was an agreement between the United States and the newly independent Republic of Panama. It granted the U.S. the authority to construct and manage the Panama Canal. U.S. Secretary of State John Hay negotiated the treaty with Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, a French…