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Quote – “Most Anglo commentators took care to make distinctions of social status and gender.  They described los ricos as “educated” or “successful” Mexicans, sometimes rewarding them the label “Castilian” or “Spanish.” They likewise tended to separate “Spanish” ladies, often the wives and daughters of wealthy landowners, from “Mexican” women of the pisano class. Such distinctions are understandable in light of Anglo motives. Upper-class women and men were unlikely targets of racial disparagement because they fit into Anglo designs. As prospective wives wives or business partners, they did not present the threat posed by unschooled and impoverished paisanos.” (Montgomery 65) 

Comment –  The Spanish colonial history that Montgomery states that the New Mexicans drew upon to declare themselves “Spanish-American” seems to be a racial structure that dominated that colonial society pre-Mexican independence. Specifically, those were known as peninsulares, Spaniards who came from Spain to rule the Colonies. Furthermore, there were Creoles, Spaniards born in the Americas. These two were the ruling classes of the Spanish Colonies and the racial identity that the New Mexicans seem to draw upon to make themselves a part of “whiteness.” The tapping into of this racial colonial history is why the Anglos saw some of these people as Castilian or Spanish in nature and others as racially inferior. 

Question – I want to know if this drawing from a racial colonial past to see themselves as Spanish-American was a natural evolution from the colonial era or triggered by the incoming immigration of Anglo-Americans pre and post Mexican-American War?

“As railroads disgorged mobs of acquisitive migrants from the East and Midwest, thousands of Mexican immigrants arrived from south of the border. Elite Californios found themselves caught in between. Overwhelmed by Anglo merchants and real estate promoters but fearful of mixing with the politically powerless immigrants, many Californios saw Spanish imagery as the one chance to save themselves. ” (Montgomery 67)

This quote discusses the need for adaptation in order to assimilate or become a part of a new or already established culture. As new opportunity for jobs and life opened in the American west, turning to their roots was the best way for Californios to stay afloat.

My question then is, what caused Californios to be so fearful of being classified by immigrants?

“In New Mexico, ‘Mexicans’ became ‘Spanish-Americans’ by staying put. They came to be known by the new label only because they continued to occupy the picturesque villages founded by their ancestors. Nor did the twentieth century mark a decisive shift in their daily behavior, although they were not exactly standing still” (Montgomery, 63).

I’m a bit confused by this quote. Earlier, the author said that immigrants become American by leaving homes and adopting new customs. Yet in this quote, he says that Mexicans went through the process of becoming by doing nothing. And somehow their continuing to live in their ancestor’s homes prevented them from becoming fully American. My question is, does the author mean that if Spanish-Americans had left behind their homes, they would have had less of a problem becoming American?

Quote – “They also recognized, however, that time was not on their side. Since 1850 the territory had been controlled at the top by federally appointed officials, most of them Anglo. After 1880 the railroad brought a flood of Anglo settlers, many of whom were openly contemptuous of the territory’s “Mexicans.” By 1900 the newcomers had weakened the political influence long enjoyed by New Mexico’s most prominent rico families […]”(Montgomery 67).

Comment -I find it interesting that newcomers could affect the political control of the rico families that much. It seems to me that they simply lost their strength because of the overwhelming numbers of Anglo settlers.

Question – Did many families form alliances with the federally appointed officials? How did the rico families strengthen back up after the new settlers weakened their power?

“Spanish colonial society was further amplified by the intermixture of Pueblo Indians and genizaros, the enslaved Apaches and Navajo who often gained their freedom and intermarried with non-Indians”.

I found this quote interesting, as it is the first time I have encountered the term genizaros, but also that someone was going from the status of enslavement to then marrying a non-endian member of Spanish colonial society.

My limited familiarity of the terms of race based slavery being for a term of live or until sold, I am curious as to how native engaged in this form of slavery. How were slaves released from this situation?