University Press of America The Spanish Speakers in the United States: A History

The Spanish-Speakers in the United States covers the history, politics and culture of the major groups of the fastest growing minority in the United States, beginning with the Spanish legacy of the Southwest, and moving on to the beginnings of large-scale Mexican immigration after the turn of the century, socioeconomic changes brought about by World War I, and changes in the demographic composition of the nation as a result of later immigration. The authors address the major questions surrounding Hispanic immigrants, including whether immigrants compete for jobs and social services, whether the Immigration and Naturalization Service is capable of handling the flow of immigrants, and whether employer sanctions are just. They discuss the nature of the immigrants themselves, and the various groups throughout the country, concluding with an assessment of their contemporary situation, focusing in particular on what they perceive as the failure of bilingual education.