<P> It began as Hispanic Heritage Week , established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal ( D - Los Angeles ) and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 . The commemorative week was expanded by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban Edward Torres ( D - Pico Rivera ) and implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 - day period ( September 15 - October 15 ) . The bill died in committee , but in 1988 Senator Paul Simon of Illinois re-submitted an amended version of the bill , S. 2200 . It was enacted into law on August 17 , 1988 on the approval of Public Law 100 - 402 . September 15 of every year was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries : Costa Rica , El Salvador , Guatemala , Honduras and Nicaragua . All declared independence in 1821 . In addition , Mexico , Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16 , September 18 , and September 21 , respectively . </P>
<P> It began as Hispanic Heritage Week , established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal ( D - Los Angeles ) and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 . The commemorative week was expanded by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban Edward Torres ( D - Pico Rivera ) and implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 - day period ( September 15 - October 15 ) . The bill died in committee , but in 1988 Senator Paul Simon of Illinois re-submitted an amended version of the bill , S. 2200 . It was enacted into law on August 17 , 1988 on the approval of Public Law 100 - 402 . September 15 of every year was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries : Costa Rica , El Salvador , Guatemala , Honduras and Nicaragua . All declared independence in 1821 . In addition , Mexico , Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16 , September 18 , and September 21 , respectively . </P>
when was the first time hispanic heritage was celebrated in usa
when was the first time hispanic heritage was celebrated in usa
1968
1968