"I Am An American First, Last & All The Time" - Reconstruction to the Spanish-American War

In this fourth episode of History & Memory, Dr Mendoza carries us from the Civil War through the challenging Reconstruction years leading up to the US's first war of empire, the Spanish-American War. You can follow along with the outline below:Reconstruction to Frontier EraA. Limited Role for Tejanos on the Frontier1. Security taken over by US Armya) Segregated units for African Americans but no such efforts to recruit Tejanosb) Benavides’s brother Rafael served as Texas Ranger in 1870s2. Militiasa) Fraternal organizations in late 1800s (no real effort to offer Nat. Guard yet)B. Loyalty1. Banditry and Revolutionary Activity on the Border2. Events in Mexico had outcasts from Diaz regime operating on the bordera) Catarino Garza and Francisco Sandovalb) Agitated against Diaz from Texasc) Mexico’s foreign minister suggested Tejanos were susceptible to influencea. Fed into trope of disloyal Tejanos who did not assimilateSpanish American WarA. All volunteers fed by war fervor of the Yellow Press1. War fervor to heal the nation after the Civil War2. Manifest Destiny on a broader scale (imperialism)B. Story of Suspected Disloyalty1. El Paso: Educator HML Lopez accused of harboring Spanish sympathies2. Laredo: City leader Amador Sanchez is questioned about loyalty b/c he did not jointhe war effort. He had to write the local paper to retort: “I am an American first,last, and all the time.”3. In West Texas and North Texas, city officials tracked the movement of Tejanos backto Mexico to note they were not supportive of the war4. In Eagle Pass, officials criticized donations to SpainC. Agustin De Zavala1. Joined the ranks of the Army not for patriotism but for political/economicadvancement2. Sister was Adina De Zavala (granddaughter of first Republic of Texas VP) whochampioned the preservation of the Alamo as a historical pieceMemoryA. George Washington Birthday Celebration in Laredo1. Entire city shuts down in patriotic fervor since 1898B. Spanish American a forgotten war besides