Hispanic History
America’s Hispanic and Latino history is rich, diverse and long, with immigrants, refugees and Spanish-speaking or Indigenous people living in the United States since long before the nation was established. From early Spanish colonialism to civil and worker rights laws to famous firsts, explore notable figures and events in Hispanic history.
Featured Overview
Years before Brown v. Board of Ed, the Mendezes fought their own battle against legalized school segregation, risking their livelihood to lay the groundwork for the Supreme Court decision to come.
1:02m watch
James Garrett/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Featured Overview
Years before Brown v. Board of Ed, the Mendezes fought their own battle against legalized school segregation, risking their livelihood to lay the groundwork for the Supreme Court decision to come.
1:02m watch
Start Here
From early Spanish colonialism to civil and worker rights laws to famous firsts to Supreme Court decisions on immigration, see a timeline of notable events in U.S Hispanic and Latinx history.
From entertainment devices to lifesaving medical technologies, Latino inventors have advanced humankind through their contributions.
Chicano activists took on a name that had long been a racial slur—and wore it with pride.
The effort to coin a term to describe a wildly diverse group of Americans has long stirred controversy.
Puerto Rico
Here's Why Puerto Rico Is Part of the U.S. - Sort Of
Learn about Puerto Rico's complex history, starting with its Spanish rule to becoming a U.S. territory. See how its eventual commonwealth status, the 2006 recession, and 2017's Hurricane Maria have caused political and economic upheaval.
3:18 watch
3 Trailblazing Hispanic and Latino Activists
Explore All Related Topics
Together with Cesar Chavez, she spotlighted the ongoing civil and human rights struggles of farm workers.
From registering voters to battling suppression, these organizations have helped grow and empower America's Latino electorate.
He became especially known for his rallying cry, 'Su voto es su voz' ('Your vote is your voice').
Thousands of Mexican American students participated in the 'Blowout,' the first urban, youth-led protest of the burgeoning Chicano civil rights crusade.
The Borinqueneers, the U.S. military's only all-Hispanic unit, saw their sacrifice and achievements overshadowed by a trumped-up court martial.
From entertainment devices to lifesaving medical technologies, Latino inventors have advanced humankind through their contributions.
Classic Westerns have cemented the image of cowboys as white Americans, but the first wave of horse-riding cow wranglers in North America were Indigenous Mesoamerican men.
In 1969, a group of Puerto Rican youth in East Harlem leveraged a garbage problem to demand reform.
As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico is neither a state nor an independent country—and politics over its status remain complicated.
Representation matters, and Romauldo Pacheco proved that as the first Hispanic Congressman in American history.
1:01m watch
While many know the name Cesar Chavez today, his most trusted lieutenant was just as vital to the Mexican farmworkers movement.
1:02m watch
Learn more about the history of Pancho Villa & The Mexican Revolution.
3:24m watch
After a Texas funeral home refused to let Felix Longoria's family use its chapel in 1949, Senator Lyndon Johnson stepped in.
Chicano activists took on a name that had long been a racial slur—and wore it with pride.
They had a profound effect on the massive world of American food production.
From early Spanish colonialism to civil and worker rights laws to famous firsts to Supreme Court decisions on immigration, see a timeline of notable events in U.S Hispanic and Latinx history.
The effort to coin a term to describe a wildly diverse group of Americans has long stirred controversy.
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities that spans from September 15 to October 15.
Romualdo Pacheco was adroit at politics (and bear hunting), but in 1877 he faced a rocky road to the House of Representatives.
Everyone loves chewing gum! And the reason this treat is so popular in America is all thanks to an exiled Mexican President.
1:02m watch
Years before Brown v. Board of Ed, the Mendezes fought their own battle against legalized school segregation, risking their livelihood to lay the groundwork for the Supreme Court decision to come.
1:02m watch
How white settlers edged out Mexicans in their own backyard.
Eugenics and unethical clinical trials are part of the pill’s legacy.
Chinese immigrants, escaped slaves, and Native Americans were all people U.S. forces tried to keep on one side or the other.
Learn about Puerto Rico's complex history, starting with its Spanish rule to becoming a U.S. territory. See how its eventual commonwealth status, the 2006 recession, and 2017's Hurricane Maria have caused political and economic upheaval.
3:18m watch
Some believed they could improve the U.S. population by controlled breeding.
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island covering approximately 3,500 square miles. After centuries of Spanish rule, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898.
Is it time to alter or abolish the Jones Act?
Take a look at the history of Tex-Mex, the regional cuisine that food snobs love to hate and millions love to consume.
Cesar Chavez, labor leader, civil rights activist and founder of the National Farm Workers Association, dedicated his life to the rights of farm workers.