Inside Bay Area-Daily Review Online.
MOST PEOPLE now would agree that the Japanese internments during World War II represent a dark chapter in the history of the United States. To a degree, apologies and reparations have mollified these memories, I hope, at least with the majority of our Japanese-American brothers.
Just prior to that, however, there was another dark episode, one that has not received the attention of the internments. It is the Mexican Repatriation, which took place from 1929 to 1944. That was the Depression, the Dust Bowl years, so excellently portrayed in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath."
Everyone wanted to move to the Western states, especially California. There was plenty of room. There were not, however, enough jobs for the new arrivals. Something had to be done. President Hoover came up with an idea that would create jobs for the new arrivals. It was simple. A train ride for the Mexicans living in the West. All Mexicans. Back to Mexico. Regardless of their resident status. It was enforced by the local authorities.
Now, at that time, illegal migration existed, but it did not cause the upheaval or the Arizonan vigilantism of today. Personally, I accept immigration because the greatness of this country of ours is due, in large part, to it.
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June 2, 2005
The city of "Guanajuato," and Guanajuato the state history
HISTORY
In the pre-Hispanic period the territory now occupied by the city of Guanajuato was chiefly inhabited by nomadic tribes generically known as Chichimecas who lived by hunting and gathering.
The city of Guanajuato was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Don Rodrigo Vazquez was granted the central part of the state of Guanajuato where he started looking for silver and other precious metals. Several mines were opened and indian were made slaves and put to work to extract the precious metal from the earth. Guanajuato soon became the silver-mining centre of the world. The spaniards also took advantage of the fertile plains in the region. Several fruits and vegetables were brought from Spain and cultivated in Guanajuato to realize bumper crops.
In the sixteenth century, the colonists built theatres, churches, museums, squares, markets and side streets. Universities were built and artists and musicians were encouraged. Many of these monuments still exist today from which cultural manifestations surge out. This period of bliss lasted till the 19th century.
Mexican war of Independence
Father Miguel Hidalgo instigated the Indian and mestizo population to revolt against the spaniards. In September 1810, he and his band of revolutionaries encountered stiff resistance at while trying to win Guanajuato. Several thousand soldiers were killed in this bloody battle but the rebels managed to win the city. Father Hidalgo was later captured and executed by firing squad on July 31, 1811. After eleven more years of fighting Mexico won independence from Spain on August 24, 1821. Guanajuato was named 'Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by UNESCO in 1988, for the magnificent colonial buildings that make up its architecture.
In the pre-Hispanic period the territory now occupied by the city of Guanajuato was chiefly inhabited by nomadic tribes generically known as Chichimecas who lived by hunting and gathering.
The city of Guanajuato was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Don Rodrigo Vazquez was granted the central part of the state of Guanajuato where he started looking for silver and other precious metals. Several mines were opened and indian were made slaves and put to work to extract the precious metal from the earth. Guanajuato soon became the silver-mining centre of the world. The spaniards also took advantage of the fertile plains in the region. Several fruits and vegetables were brought from Spain and cultivated in Guanajuato to realize bumper crops.
In the sixteenth century, the colonists built theatres, churches, museums, squares, markets and side streets. Universities were built and artists and musicians were encouraged. Many of these monuments still exist today from which cultural manifestations surge out. This period of bliss lasted till the 19th century.
Mexican war of Independence
Father Miguel Hidalgo instigated the Indian and mestizo population to revolt against the spaniards. In September 1810, he and his band of revolutionaries encountered stiff resistance at while trying to win Guanajuato. Several thousand soldiers were killed in this bloody battle but the rebels managed to win the city. Father Hidalgo was later captured and executed by firing squad on July 31, 1811. After eleven more years of fighting Mexico won independence from Spain on August 24, 1821. Guanajuato was named 'Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by UNESCO in 1988, for the magnificent colonial buildings that make up its architecture.
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