A Homeland: The History Of The Mexican American Civil Rights Movement

The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement The film, “Quest For A Homeland” teaches the history of the Chicano Movement and the leaders that made a huge contribution to the movement. It all started when the United States declared war on Mexico in 1846. In 1848 the war ended and Mexico lost half its territory to the U.S. After the war the U.S and Mexico signed a peace treaty called the “Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.” This Treaty promises that Mexicans were able to become an American citizen and they were able to keep their homelands. Unfortunately, the Americans overlooked this treaty, as a consequence Mexicans-Americans started to lose their lands to speculators, lawyers and cattle barons. This led to an era of protest
that became a turning point for not only the Mexicans-Americans community but, for the people who were facing injustice based on their race. This was also the time when tremendous leaders rose to the occasion like Martin Luther King Jr., Reies López Tijerina, Rodolfo Gonzales, and much more. Those fearless leaders created well-known movements such as the American civil rights movement as well as the Chicano movement. However, all the monumental leaders share a common purpose and that common purpose was to fight for equality, to end poverty, and to end segregation.