March 24, 2008

Taos Patriotic Revolt 1847, Hispanic Nationalism in New Mexico?

taos new mexico
hillibillycat56 asked:


Hello

I’m looking for people with knowledge about the 1847 Patriotic Revolt in Taos, development of the Mexican War in New Mexico and Southern Colorado and the events that followed.

New Mexicans have been told since 1847 that they’re Spanish and not Mexican, the Anglo domination broke the alliance that existed between Hispanics and Pueblos and this is the reason why ther hasn’t been any strong Nationalist opposition to the United States in New Mexico.

I want more information on these issues.

I run a website and magazine that supports the Nationalist (not Chicano) cause in Mexico and the Southwest and this is a good opportunity for young or amateur historians to make themselves known.

My e-mail is: info@voluntad.org.mx

Thanks for your help

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Comments on Taos Patriotic Revolt 1847, Hispanic Nationalism in New Mexico?

March 27, 2008

pdooma @ 10:11 am

Try here…

dais77005 @ 7:42 pm

Well, there are several issues at hand here and they revolve around how you structure such a debate: it could take place around issues of ethnicity or issues of nationalism.

First you need to define “Mexican.” If you mean that as an ethnic term that connotes the mestizaje that is now indicative of Mexico, then maybe New Mexicans in 1847 weren’t AS Mexican as they were Spanish. By that time, however, there was a mixing of races and cultures that made New Mexicans their own kind of “mixed race” that was distinct from Old Mexico Mexicans.

The remoteness afforded by the distance from Mexico City, the lack of obvious mineral wealth in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the aridity which rendered agriculture for profit difficult made New Mexico more self reliant than other part of the Spanish empire. As a result, few “Mexicans” paid much attention to New Mexico. Instead it was a pet project for the church and the “purer” goals of the Spanish crown’s expansionism.

By the time New Mexico became part of the Mexican Cession, people in the north really didn’t notice the change as much we might expect. Ultimately, it was, however, that watershed treaty that allowed the first “anglos” into the territory.

Anyway, that should get you started.

Good luck, let me know if you have other questions.