Title: Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress - Wikipedia
Headings: Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents
History of representation
Manifest Destiny and 19th century expansion
Post Spanish-American War period
The modern era
Post World War II representation
21st century
List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
United States Congress
See also
References
External links

Content: California, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Post Spanish-American War period
Sen. Octaviano Larrazola, the first Hispanic or Latino American to serve in the United States Senate, was elected in 1928. One of the major questions that arose in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War in 1898 was the question of territorial status on the mainland and abroad. The gains of the Spanish-American War included claims to Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico, and the handling of Puerto Rico in particular proved key to deciding how these foreign territories were to be treated, particularly with the establishment of the Foraker Act of 1900 and the Jones Act of 1917. One of the ways that Hispanic and Latino representation in Congress increased was that it created the position of Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico, although this position contained some of the same restrictions previously experienced by territorial delegates. The period also saw some substantive gains as it saw the first two Latino Senators ever elected, led by the election of Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazola in 1928. Dennis Chávez of New Mexico followed suit by being elected in 1935 and becoming the first Hispanic or Latino American to serve in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; Chávez also importantly represented a continued trend of political representation leading to substantive and surrogate representation of Hispanic and Latino American interests more widely, and was one of the earliest advocates for Hispanic and Latino American civil rights. This period represented important gains that would be built upon in the period following World War II and beyond. The modern era
Post World War II representation
The aftermath World War II proved another time for increased representation for Hispanic and Latino Americans in Congress, fueled by desires for equal rights born out of experiences fighting for the country abroad.