Most writing about Mexican Americans deals only with the twentieth century. This book provides the much-needed historical perspective that is essential for a full understanding of the present. Dozens of selections from firsthand accounts, introduced by David J Weber's essays, capture the essence of the Mexican-American experience in the Southwest from the time the first pioneers came north from Mexico. PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION: The first edition was selected as a Choice 'Outstanding Academic Book of the Year' and received the following accolades: An excellent job of illuminating the early...

Every now and then a scholar appears in the field of history whose outpouring of works earns them special tribute and homage. Such a person is Dr. Felix D. Almaraz Jr., of the University of Texas at San Antonio. Over the course of a career that spans more than four decades, don Felix (as he is respectfully known) has stamped his name on Texas history as an author of award-winning books and essays, as an ambassador for the profession, and as a winner of numerous awards and honors, many of them bestowed upon him by historical and learned societies abroad.
"Tejano"" Epic" is a tribute to don...