From the Squatter and the Don, The Don's View of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Don Mariano Alamar is a Mexican who owns land in Southern California, in San Diego to be exact. This story took place in 1872. White Americans are taking the lands that are owned by Mexicans in California. "'...Those two friends of squatters Matthews and Hagar, who were here last year to locate claims and went away, did not abandon their claims, but only went away to bring proselytes and their families, and a large invoice of them will arrive on tomorrow's steamer. The worst of it all is, that among the newcomers is that terrible and most dangerous squatter William Darrell, who some years ago gave so much trouble to the Spanish people in Napa and Sonoma Counties, by locating claims there.'"(De Burton, 246).
There are laws to protect people's properties yet there are Mexicans still losing their properties in California. There are obviously loopholes in these laws. Don Mariano said, "'Yes, some sort of laws, which in my case seem more intended to help the law-breakers than to protect the law-abiding." (De Burton, 247). The Mexicans in California are being treated unfairly since they are losing their lands to Americans. It is interesting the lengths the Americans will go to take land from the Mexicans. They have planted acres of grain in a Mexican's land so that their cattle will eat the grass since there is no fence and then the Americans can make the Mexicans pay for damages. This is very sneaky on part of the American's but smart because they are getting what they want. Don Mariano is also smart because he has caught on to the trickery of the Americans.
Unfortunately, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had retroactive laws. Because of this the Mexicans left on California and the other states that America owned after The Mexican-American War are not protecting the Mexicans. "'Congress takes very good care not to enact retroactive laws for Americans...'"(De Burton, 248). Mexicans, in California are being discriminated against. American Citizens who have property in California automatically have a title. This is not how it turns out for the Mexicans in California.
I really enjoyed reading this story. I actually did not know much about the Mexican-American War but since I read this, I looked it up. It is horrible that there was and still is inequality in the world. It is also horrible that people can be greedy and that is why we have wars.
De Burton, Maria Amparo Ruiz, "The Don's View of the Treaty of Hidalgo.", pgs. 244-253.
Hello Laura,
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading your post on the excerpt From De Burton, Maria Amparo Ruiz’s, “The Squatter and the Don”, “The Don's View of the Treaty of Hidalgo.” Your insightful and thoughtful post informed my view of the xenophobic land grab that took place in early California history. I knew that the United States was established based on ethnocentric ideas with regards to people of color, however, your post describes how the treachery of the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo helps to confirm this. I really enjoy history, and I am glad this story inspired you to research the Mexican-American War. As you wrote, greed along with racism, are leading causes of man’s inhumanity towards man.
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you when you said that Americans are sneaky and somehow plays dirty to get what they want. It also surprises me that inequality is still spreading like a plague, not just in America, but all around the globe. I wonder why the American government was so careful not to enact retroactive laws? As you said, greed is a key toward human indecency, it also goes hand in hand with power and control.
I enjoyed reading your analysis!
Cheers,
Regina
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI agree, the injustice and inequality of the situation is unfortunately something we see repeatedly in our history. I read that later in her book she mentions that in 1849 Mexican men were recognized as white citizens as a way to show racial privilege with the California constitution. Then later in 1850, they were forced to pay a Foreign Miners Tax as they were considered non-citizens. The United States historically makes treaties with peoples, then turns around and breaks those treaties. Most of which was inspired by, as you said earlier, greed and racism. Thank you for sharing your analysis with us!
Hi Laura I agree that this is a story that proves that there was a lot of injustices especially after the war. What is especially sad is how the law at that time sides with the lawbreakers more than the people who were just trying to support their families.
ReplyDelete