An Incomplete Time Line of Hispanic History
Hispanics in America: A 500 Year Timeline
Native Americans -
25000 B.C. - Sandia people leave earliest evidence of human existence in what is now New Mexico.
10000-9000 B.C. - Clovis hunters roam area in search of mammoth, bison and other game.
9000-8000 B.C. - Folsom people flourish throughout Southwest at the end of the last Ice Age.
10000-500 B.C. - Cochise people are first inhabitants to cultivate corn, squash and beans, the earliest evidence of agriculture in the Southwest.
A.D. 300-1400 - Mogollon culture introduces highly artistic pottery and early architecture in the form of pit houses.
A.D. 1-700 - Anasazi basket makers elevate weaving to a high art, creating baskets, clothing, sandals and utensils.
A.D. 700-1300 - Anasazi culture culminates in the highly developed Chaco Civilization.
A.D. 1200-1500s - Pueblo Indians establish villages along the Rio Grande and its tributaries.
1200-1500s - Pueblo Indians establish villages in New Mexico.
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1493 - The Spanish Sovereigns grant the Admiral from Castille, Cristóbal Colòn, the right to bear arms.
1508 - Velasquéz-Cortés-Pónce de León - conquest of Cúba
1508 - Juán Pónce de León explored Puérto Ricó
1508 - Vicénte Yanez Pinzon and Juán Diáz de Solís sailed along the coast of Yucatán.
1509 - Juán Poncé de León explored Jamaica.
1512 - Poncé de León explores both sides of the Florida Peninsula.
1513 - Vasco de Nuñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became
the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. Vasco de Nuñez de Balboa names body of water the "Pacific" Ocean.
1513 - Poncé de León explores Florida coast.
1514 - Don Pànfilo de Narvàez appointed Governor of Florida.
1516 - Diáz de Solis locates mouth of Rio de la Pláta.
1517 -1518 - First Spanish effort to colonize mainland Mexico.
1517 - Hernandéz de Cordova begins extensive expedition begins along the Yucatán coast.
1518 - Juán de Grijalva sails along the Mexican coast, from Cozumel to Cabo Roxo, collecting the first European impression of Mesoamerian.
1519 - 1522 - Ferdinand Magellan a Spanish subject, Magellan's, crew & ship, completes voyage of circumnavigation.
1519 - Alfonsó Alvaréz Pinéda reconnoiters the Gulf coast from Florida to Rio Panuco (the Gulf of México Coast).
1519 - Diégo de Velazquéz (the Governor of Cuba), sends Hernan Cortés to the Yucatán Coast.
1519 - During the month of April, Cortés founds the first Spanish settlement in México, La Villa Rica de la Vera Crúz and begins inland exploration.
1519 - Hernan Cortés brings horses from Spain to the Americas. Hernan Cortes army of Spaniards was accompanied by a large number of native auxiliaries. Spanish women also accompanied the expedition. Several Castillian women established themselves as nurses: Isabel Rodriguez, had a legendary touch with the wounded. Beatriz de Pardes, on occasion fought in place of her husband. Las Conquistadoras
1520 - Alvaréz de Pinéda sails across the Gulf of México from Texas to Florida.
1520 - Pànfilo de Narvàez arrives for orders for Cortés arrest. When Cortés leaves Tenóchtitlán to join Narvaez in battle, Pedró de Alvarado was left in charge of the city. De Alvarado allows a religious festival that turns into the Massacre of the Templó Máyor. The Spaniards are caught trying to escape are attacked and are killed in large numbers. This event is known as the "Noche Triste, The Sad Night."
1521 - May 1521 Spaniards begin the siege de Tenochitlan, Mexico lasts 75 days.
1521 - Poncé de León in Florida, in an effort to establish colony.
1521 - Gordillo and Quexos explore Atlantic coast to Cape Hatteras (off North Carolina)
1519- 1521 Cortés conquers México. Ordaz, one of Cortés' Lieutenants, climbs to the 17,887 foot summit of Popocatepetl.
1522 - 1536 Expeditions - Cortés to Panuco Gonzálo Sandovál to Coatzacoalcos Luis Main to Oaxáca and Chiápas Pedró de Alvaradó to Guatemalá Olid to Zacatula Michoacán to Northwest (later Reíno de Nuéva Galicia Nuno de Guzmán to Northwest also
1523 - Estéban Gomés scouts North American coast from Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia is east of Main, the most northern part of the eastern USA), and to the most southern of the U.S. Florida.
1524 - Franciscan Monks arrive.
1525 - Estéban Gomés - Explores from Cape Charles to Cape Code and the Hudson, Delaware and the Connecticut rivers (most northern NE USA & up into Canada).
1525 - Ayllon, went up the Atlantic Coast to Cape Fear.
1526 - Lucás Vasquéz de Ayllon -settled on the Savannah River.
1526 - Georgia - First European settlement was in present day Georgia , San Miguel de Gualdape, Founded and settled by Spain. The first European settlement in North America was San Miguel de Guadalupe, founded in Georgia in 1526, 81 years before Jamestown, which was settled in 1607.
1527 - June 1527 Panifilo de Narvaez with a fleet of five ships left Spain, with 600 men, arrived in Hispanola February 1528.
1528 - The same fleet entered near Tampa Bay, St Petersburg, Florida, (had come from Cúba this trip). Explores coastline from Tampa Bay to Galveston.
1528 - Alvar Nuñez Cabéz de Vacá and three others off the coast of Texas, at Galveston Island they were castaways of the Narvaez expedition.
1528 - King Carlós V establishes the first Audiencia in Nueva España-Tierra Nova, to handle judicial and executive matters.
1528 - Don Panfilo and troops went north, encountered an indigenous village. Continued north and encountered the "Apalachee" tribe.
1530 - Tampico (Modern day Texas), established by Fray Andrés de Olmos
1531 - The Appearance of the Virgin Mary to Juán Diégo, in the city of Guadalúpe. Our Lady of Guadalupe becomes Méxicos' patron Saint.
1534- 1536 - Cabéza de Vacá (and three others from the Narvaez expedition), walk from Galveston (Texas), New México, and Arizona and to the west coast of México.
1535 - Nuñez Cabez de Vacá performs the first surgical operation in the North American Continent near Pecos, Texas.
1535 - Cárlos V. appointed António de Méndoza as New Spains' 1st Viceroy. Nueva España is divided into provinces ruled by a govenor-general (António de Mendóza cousin of Cárlos I Rey de España and also known as Cárlos (Charles) V the Holy Roman Emperor.)
1535 to 1565 - Poncé de León and Hernan de Soto's Expeditions
1536 - Cabéza de Vacá Cabeza, Estevan the Moor and two others reach Culiacan, Mexico, after possibly crossing what is now southern New Mexico, and begin rumors of the Seven Cities of Cibola.
1539 - Fray Marcos de Niza and Estevan lead expedition to find Cibola and reach the Zuni village of Hawikuh, where Estevan is killed.
1540-42 - Francisco Vasquez de Coronado explores area from Gulf of California to present-day Kansas, discovers the Grand Canyon.
1541 - Hernan De Soto, accompanied by Catholic missionaries, claimed the land that was to be known as Louisiana for Spain.
1580-81 - Fray Agustin Rodriguez leads expedition to New Mexico; four members of the party killed by Indians.
1582-83 - Fray Bernadino Beltran and Fray Antonio de Espejo lead expedition to New Mexico to search for survivors of the ill-fated Rodriguez mission.
1598 - Don Juan de Oñate establishes the first Spanish capital of San Juan de los Caballeros at the Tewa village of Ohke north of present-day Espanola, New Mexico.
1599 - Battle at Aroma between natives and Spaniards; seeds of Pueblo Revolt sown.
1600 - San Gabriel, second capital of New Mexico, is founded at the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Chama River.
1601 - Mass desertion of San Gabriel by colonists; new recruits front Spain and Mexico sent to reinforce colony.
1605 - Don Juan de Oñate expedition to the Colorado River; visits El Morro, leaves message on Inscription Rock.
1608 - Don Juan de Oñate removed as governor and sent to Mexico City to be tried for mistreatment of the Indians and abuse of power. Decision made by Spanish Crown to continue settlement of New Mexico as a royal province.
1609-10 - Governor Pedro de Peralta establishes a new capital at Santa Fe, New Mexico. Construction begins on the Palace of the Governors. Gaspar de Villagra publishes epic history on the founding of New Mexico, the first book printed about any area in the modern United States.
1680 - Pueblo Indians revolt.
1693 - Don Diego de Vargas retakes Santa Fe, New Mexico.
1695 - Santa Cruz de la Cahada (Canada) founded.
1696 - Second Pueblo Revolt; efforts thwarted by Governor Don Diego De Vargas.
1706 - Villa de Albuquerque city (New Mexico) founded.
1743 - French trappers reach Santa Fe and begin limited trade with the Spanish.
1776 - Franciscan friars Dominguez and Escalante explore route from out New Mexico to California.
1780 – Battle of Fort San Carlos. Spanish Lt. Governor Fernando de Leyba and his Spanish militia battled 1,200 British forces in St. Louis, Missouri, and helped the American independent fighters drive the British out of Upper Louisiana and the upper Mississippi river.
1786 - Governor Juan Bautista de Anza makes peace with the Comanches.
1793 - First school text printed in New Mexico by Padre Antonio Jose Martinez of Taos.
1807 - Zebulon Pike leads first Anglo American expedition into New Mexico. Published accounts of way of life in New Mexico upon return to U.S.
1812 - Battle Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, a Hispanic who was the first Admiral of the U.S. Navy, played a decisive role in the final outcome of our Civil War and was credited with the battle cry "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" He also commanded a gunboat during the War of 1812.
1819 – The Adams –Onis Treaty signed by John Quincy Adams and Spanish Ambassador Luis de Onis. This treaty was a negotiated agreement determining the boundaries of the Spanish Empire in North America.
1821 - Mexico declares independence from Spain. Santa Fe Trail opened to international trade.
1822- Joseph Marion Hernandez, elected a Non-Voting Delegate to the United States Congress, Florida Territory.
1828 - First major gold discovery in western U. S. made in Ortiz Mountains south of Santa Fe.
1829 - The discovery of the Las Vegas valley made by Raphael Rivera, a Mexican scout, sent by the Antonio Armijo party.
1837 - Chimayo Revolt against Mexican taxation leads to the assassination of Governor Albino Perez and top officials.
1841 - Texas soldiers invade New Mexico and claim all land east of the Rio Grande. Efforts thwarted by Governor Manuel Armijo.
1846 - Mexican-American War begins. Stephen Watts Kearny annexes New Mexico to the United States.
1848 - Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends U.S.-Mexican War; New Mexico becomes a territory.
1850 – 1854 - Pablo De Le Guerra Y Noriega was the first Hispanic appointed United States Marshal for the Southern District of California and the first Hispanic ever appointed to the position.
1850 - New Mexico (which included present-day Arizona, southern Colorado, southern Utah, and southern Nevada) is designated a territory but denied statehood.
1851 - Bishop John Baptiste Lamy arrives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, sets up schools and hospitals.
1851 – Los Angeles City Council, California, enacts the first school ordinance supportive of bilingual education.
1853 – Antonio F. Coronel elected Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, California.
1853 - The Gadsden Purchase from Mexico adds 45,000 square miles to the territory. This includes Las Cruces, New Mexico and parts of Arizona to Yuma.
1855 – The California Ant-Vagrancy Act otherwise known was the “Greaser Act” was enacted specifically as anti-Mexican.
1856 – Manuel Requena elected Mayor of Los Angeles, California.
1857 – Santos Benavides becomes Mayor of his hometown, Laredo, Texas, and later fought for the Confederacy as Brigadier General in the Civil War.
1861 - Confederates invade New Mexico front Texas. The Confederate Territory of Arizona is declared with the capital at La Mesilla. Territory of Colorado is created. New Mexico loses extreme northern-most section to the new territory
1862 - Battles of Velarde de and Glorieta Pass fought, ends confederate occupation of New Mexico.
1863-68 - Known as the "Long Walk," Navajos and Apaches are relocated to Bosque Redondo: finally allowed to return to their homelands after thousands die of disease and starvation.
1863 - New Mexico is partitioned in half. Territory of Arizona is created.
1865 - Medal of Honor recipient: Philip Bazaar, a Chilean member of the United States Navy, for bravery during the Civil War. He received his Congressional Medal of Honor.
1866 – Cristobal Aguilar elected Mayor of the City Los Angeles, California.
1868 – First Hispanic law enforcement officer Killed in the Line of Duty, Manuel Garcia Y Griego, Albuquerque’s Constable’s Office, New Mexico. Shot and killed June 24, 1868.
1871 – First Hispanic Major League Player: Esteban Bellán, Troy Haymakers of the National Association, a predecessor of the National League.
1822- Jose Manuel Gallegos, elected a Non-Voting Delegate to the United States Congress, New Mexico Territory.
1872 - Novel in English, written and published in U.S.: María Amparo Ruiz de Burton, Who Would Have Thought It? (1872). She's better known for her 1885 second novel, The Squatter and the Don.
1875 - Romualdo Pacheco elected 12th Governor of California.
1875 – Carlos Manuel De Cepedes, a Cuban, was elected Mayor in Key West, Florida.
1877 - Romualdo Pacheco elected to the United States House of Representatives, California.
1878 - The railroad arrives in New Mexico, opening full-scale trade and migration.
1881 - Billy the Kid shot by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico
1883 – First Known Hispanic Labor Leader: Juan Gómez.
1885 – Romulo Martinez, appointed United States Marshal for the Territory of New Mexico, until 1886.
1886 - Geronimo surrenders; Indian hostilities cease in the Southwest.
1886 – Bonifacio Barron appointed Sheriff of Taos County, New Mexico.
1886 - The first known female Hispanic labor leader of note was Lucy González Parsons.
1888 – The Caballeros de Labor was created as a labor union in San Miguel County, New Mexico, by Juan Jose Herrera.
1891 – El Centro Espanol de Tampa, Florida, created by Spanish and Cubans as a mutual aid society.
1891 – Calixto Garcia, First Hispanic Deputy United States Marshal, Western District of Texas, shot and Killed in the Line of Duty on October 30.
1894 – Alianza Hispano-Americano formed in Tucson, Arizona, as a mutual aid society by Carlos Velasco and Manuel Samaniego.
1885 – Nicholas A. Covarubia, appointed United States Marshal for the District of California.
1896 – George Garcia appointed first Hispanic New York City Police officer.
1897 – Miguel A. Otero elected Governor of New Mexico.
1897 – Rodriguez v. Texas decision allowed Mexicans to naturalize primarily because of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
1898 – Puérto Ricó acquired by the United States.
1898 - First movie filmed in New Mexico, Indian Day School by Thomas A. Edison.
1900 – Rafael Nieto-Abeille was the first Hispanic Federal Judge (Puérto Ricó) appointed by President William McKinley.
1901 – Federico Degetau, elected a Non-Voting Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, Territory of Puérto Ricó.
1901 – France Silva, Private, U.S. Marine Corps, July 19, 1901 awarded the Medal of Honor , “In the presence of the enemy during the action at Peking, China, June 28, to August 17, 1900. Throughout this period, Silva distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”
1903 – The Clifton-Morenci, Arizona, efforts by Mexicans and Italians to unionize.
1905 – Lucia Gonzalez Parsons co-found the International Labor Defense and Industrial workers, Chicago, Illinois.
1906 - People of New Mexico and Arizona vote on issue of joint statehood, New Mexico voting in favor and Arizona against.
1910 - New Mexico Constitution drafted in preparation for statehood.
1911 – La Agrupacion Protectora Mexicana created in San Antonio, Texas, in order to protect Mexicans from Anglo violence.
1912 – Jose T. Canales of Corpus Christi, Texas, was elected to the Texas State Senate and served until 1928, and later elected as a Judge.
1912 - New Mexico admitted to the Union as the 47th state.
1912 – First Hispanic Opera diva: Lucrezia Bori, who debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1912
1914 – First Hispanic Hollywood director: Raoul Walsh, 1914, The Life of General Villa
1915 – The Clifton-Morenci, Arizona, efforts by Mexicans and whites to unionize.
1915 – First Naval Academy Graduate, Pedro Augusto del Valle, highest rank achieved, Lieutenant General.
1915 – The El Heraldo de Mexico newspaper founded in Los Angeles, California, by Juan de Heras and Cesar F. Matburg
1916 - Pancho Villa raids Columbus, New Mexico.
1917 – Jones Act grants Puérto Ricans United States citizenship.
1917 – Immigration and Naturalization Service appoints “border inspectors” in order to halt Chinese entries who were barred from entering the United States.
1919 – First Hispanic World Series player: Adolfo “Dolf” Luque, 1919, relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, against the infamous “Black Sox.” He later pitched for the New York Giants in the 1933 Series and was credited with the win in the final game.
1921 – The Immigration Act of 1921 establishes the first immigration quotas system in the United States restricting the entry of Europeans. Attempts to include Mexicans in the restriction are blocked by farmers.
1921 – Order of the Sons of America, San Antonio, Texas, created by U.S. born Latinos in order to achieve civil rights.
1923 – First Hispanic Matinee idol: Ramón Navarro, 1923, The Prisoner of Zenda.
1924 – Argentine, Kansas, segregated schools allowed Mexican students to attend the all white high school, but not elementary schools.
1924 – The United States Border Patrol was organized to primarily curb illegal entries from Mexico.
1925 – First Hispanic Leading Lady: Dolores del Río, 1925, Joanne.
1925 – First Hispanic Spanish Language newspaper started El Amigo Del Hogar, in East Chicago, Indiana.
1926 - The Harlem Riots occurred in July when Puerto Ricans were attacked by non-Hispanics as a result of their numbers growing in Manhattan, New York.
1927 - La Liga Puertoriquena E Hispana created in New York in order to empower the Hispanic community.
1927 – First NFL player: Ignacio “Lou” Molinet, 1927
1928 – La Asamblea Mexicana, Houston, Texas, formed in order to help immigrants who were jailed unjustly.
1928 – Octaviano Larrazola first Hispanic elected to the United States Senate from New Mexico.
1929 – First Latino Civil Rights organization formed: League of United Latin Americans (LULAC) in Corpus Christi, Texas. Organizational documents prepared and written by Jose T. Canales.
1931 – Roberto R. Alvarez v. Lemon Grove School Board (San Diego), California. At age 12, Alavarez was the plaintiff in a Supreme Court case fighting school segregation of Mexican students.
1931 – The Comite Mexicano De Beneficia was created in Los Angeles, California, to create and promote relief for Mexican immigrants.
1933 – The term Chicano is being used in Los Angeles, California.
1933 – Latin American Club of Arizona, formed by Gregorio Garcia, Ralph Estrada, Val Cordova, and William Fellows.
1933 – La Asociacion De Jornaleros. Laredo, Texas, created as a union for hat-makers and farm workers. The leader arrested one year later and organization closed.
1935 – Latin American Club of Houston, Texas, formed by Leonard J. Lewis, George Dreary, and Felix Tijerina.
1936 – Dennis Chavez elected to the United States Senate from New Mexico.
1936 – The Celery Fields Strikes in Southern California, which led to 1,500 armed men attacking unarmed Mexican farmers. The Mexican farmers were refused medical aid in attempt to disrupt settlement talks with growers.
1936 – Timoteo Andrade (a Mexican-America), while awaiting a swearing-in ceremony as a United States citizen, was denied because of partial American-Indian heritage. Andrade was denied citizenship by a federal Judge in the First Federal Circuit Court, Buffalo, New York. The case was later “expunged” by the same Judge and Andrade was granted citizenship.
1936 – Club Chaputepec, Houston, Texas, created by young Mexican-American girls as an education and youth mobility group.
1938 – The Congreso De Pueblos De Habla Espanola was created in Los Angeles, California. During the first meeting, 1,000 delegates representing 128 organizations and 70,000 Latinos met to discuss issues concerning Latino issues.
1940 – The term Pachuco is being used in El Paso, Texas.
1941 – First Hispanic NFL draft pick: Joe Aguirre.
1942 – 1964 – In 1941, Public Law 45 was implemented, otherwise known as “The Bracero Program.” The Bracero Program was designed to bring Mexican farm labor into the United States legally during the labor shortage during the war.
1945 – Mendez v. Westminister (Orange County, California) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that segregated “Mexican Schools are unconstitutional.”
1946 – America Immigration Lawyers Association formed in Washington, D.C.
1947 – David R. Chavez, Hispanic Federal Judge (Puerto Rico) appointed by President Harry S. Truman.
1948 - First Hispanic Grand Slam championship winner: Richard “Pancho” González.
1948 - Native Americans win right to vote.
1950 - Oscar, First Hispanic Best Actor: José Ferrer, 1950, Cyrano de Bergerac.
1951 – “Bloody Christmas,” Lincoln Heights Jail, Los Angeles, California. On Christmas Eve, jailers beat seven Mexican inmates repeatedly after the jailers became intoxicated. The jailers were ultimately prosecuted and received prison time.
1951 – La Hermandad Mexicana Nacional was the first union of Mexican undocumented immigrant workers.
1952 – First Hispanic Star of a network television show: Desi Arnaz, I Love Lucy.
1952 - Oscar, First Hispanic Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Quinn, Viva Zapata!
1954 - On May 3, 1953, Hernandez v. Texas, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Mexicans have equal protection under the 14 Amendment of the Constitution and are a protected class. This provides a legal avenue to combat discrimination.
1956 – First Hispanic Rookie of the Year: Luis Aparicio, 1956, shortstop, Chicago White Sox.
1958 – First Hispanic Rock star: Richie Valens.
1958 – The Desfile Puertoriqueno was created by the Coordinating Council for the Puérto Rican Day Parade.
1959 – ASPIRA formed in New York City, New York, in order to assist Puérto Ricans.
1960 – First Hispanic starting NFL quarterback: Tom Flores, Oakland Raiders.
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Source: New Mexico Blue Book
Source: Hispanic America USA
Source: Library of Congress
Source: Dictionary of Latino Civil Rights History, Arturo F. Rosales (Houston, Texas, 2006)
Source: The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.
Source: NYPD Historical Page, New York City Police Department, New York.
Source: www.infoplease.com
Source: Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanics