CUA 1 - Culture
TASK 2 – Passed
Honduran and Burmese Cultures
Western Governors University
, lOMoAR cPSD| 51648332
A1. Mexican Immigration to the US
Mexico and the United States were at war from 1846-1848. By the end of the war,
Americans took New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, which was about
half of Mexico’s national territory. The US-Mexican war was ended by the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo. This treaty gave Mexicans residing in the annexed states one year to either move to
Mexico or become a US citizen. Because of this, about 80,000 Mexican citizens became US
citizens.
Mexico faced civil wars, poverty, and unemployment. These factors pushed Mexicans
into American labor markets that had attractives wages. For example, in 1900, laying railroad
ties in Mexico paid 20 cents a day, but the same work in the United Stated paid one dollar.
Mexicans have and continue to migrate to the United States for safety and financial reasons.
Due to increased immigration and labor needs in the 1930’s, most school districts in
California placed Mexican students in separate schools. Mendez v. Westminster was a historic
court case in 1946, where Judge McCormick ruled that segregating Mexican students was
unconstitutional. This court case strengthened the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of
Education, making segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
According to Pew Research Center, as of 2021 there are 37.2 million Mexicans in the
United States, making up 60% of the U.S. Hispanic population. Approximately 70% of ELL
students are of Mexican descent.
A2. Characteristics of Mexican Culture
The primary language spoken in Mexico is Spanish. Compared to English, Spanish is
more phonetically consistent, uses masculine and feminine nouns, and has less words. Spanish
also has an extra letter in the alphabet, being the letter “Ñ.” This letter comes after “N” and it is
the letter “N” with a squiggly line, called a “tilde” over it. It is pronounced “en-ye.”
Family is very important in Mexican culture. It is not out of the ordinary to see two, three,
or more generations living in one household. Regardless of family ties, the elderly are given a
high degree of respect. Notable holidays in Mexico are Cinco de Mayo, Día de los Muertos (Day
of the Dead), and Día de la Independencia (Independence Day). Also, a young woman’s 15th
birthday–her quinceañera–is a very extravagant event in Mexican culture. This is considered her
transition from childhood to womanhood. Mexico is considered more traditional with family roles,
but this is slowly changing. Contrary to many places in the United States, Mexico is a very loud
country and being noisy is not considered poor etiquette.
TASK 2 – Passed
Honduran and Burmese Cultures
Western Governors University
, lOMoAR cPSD| 51648332
A1. Mexican Immigration to the US
Mexico and the United States were at war from 1846-1848. By the end of the war,
Americans took New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, which was about
half of Mexico’s national territory. The US-Mexican war was ended by the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo. This treaty gave Mexicans residing in the annexed states one year to either move to
Mexico or become a US citizen. Because of this, about 80,000 Mexican citizens became US
citizens.
Mexico faced civil wars, poverty, and unemployment. These factors pushed Mexicans
into American labor markets that had attractives wages. For example, in 1900, laying railroad
ties in Mexico paid 20 cents a day, but the same work in the United Stated paid one dollar.
Mexicans have and continue to migrate to the United States for safety and financial reasons.
Due to increased immigration and labor needs in the 1930’s, most school districts in
California placed Mexican students in separate schools. Mendez v. Westminster was a historic
court case in 1946, where Judge McCormick ruled that segregating Mexican students was
unconstitutional. This court case strengthened the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of
Education, making segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
According to Pew Research Center, as of 2021 there are 37.2 million Mexicans in the
United States, making up 60% of the U.S. Hispanic population. Approximately 70% of ELL
students are of Mexican descent.
A2. Characteristics of Mexican Culture
The primary language spoken in Mexico is Spanish. Compared to English, Spanish is
more phonetically consistent, uses masculine and feminine nouns, and has less words. Spanish
also has an extra letter in the alphabet, being the letter “Ñ.” This letter comes after “N” and it is
the letter “N” with a squiggly line, called a “tilde” over it. It is pronounced “en-ye.”
Family is very important in Mexican culture. It is not out of the ordinary to see two, three,
or more generations living in one household. Regardless of family ties, the elderly are given a
high degree of respect. Notable holidays in Mexico are Cinco de Mayo, Día de los Muertos (Day
of the Dead), and Día de la Independencia (Independence Day). Also, a young woman’s 15th
birthday–her quinceañera–is a very extravagant event in Mexican culture. This is considered her
transition from childhood to womanhood. Mexico is considered more traditional with family roles,
but this is slowly changing. Contrary to many places in the United States, Mexico is a very loud
country and being noisy is not considered poor etiquette.
