Debating American Identity: Southwestern Statehood and Mexican Immigration

Note on Terminology

xiii The United States has appropriated the word American for its citizens. While many people living in North, South, and Central America object to this—and I understand why—I use the word American to signify citizens of the United States because that is the commonly used term in the United States. Other terms, such as North Americans, seem too cumbersome or equally problematic. I use Anglo Americans or simply Anglos to refer to persons considered to be “white” Americans—regardless of their actual ethnicity—during the time period studied. While it is becoming more common to use Euro American, I avoid this term to eliminate confusion since a part of my argument involves people of Mexican descent claiming a Spanish or European identity. I use people of Mexican descent to signify people who have that ethnicity, regardless of their citizenship. Sometimes I make further distinctions, such as immigrant, or Mexican American, when the need to differentiate is particularly relevant. I use the terms Mexican or Mexican national to refer to someone from Mexico; depending on the context this could include Mexicans still residing within Mexico or Mexican immigrants in the United States. I sometimes use nativos (natives) to refer to people of Mexican descent, regardless of citizenship status, since this was a word commonly used in New Mexico during the statehood debates. I also use Americans when I mean Americans more generally , including Anglo and Mexican Americans. Note on Terminology Debating American Identity ...