Mexican Culture Study Questions

1 MEXICAN CULTURE STUDY QUESTIONS VICEREGAL PERIOD

SPAIN AND THE CONQUEST 1. Why was Isabella and Fernando called the Catholic Kings? How did they unite Spain? Who was the Spanish King in power during the Conquest of Mexico? Who was the King during Mexico’s fight for Independence? 2. Define "Patronato Real" and explain what rights it gave to the king and queen of Spain. How did this document later affect Mexico? 3. What was the Inquisition? Who established it? When? Why? How did it affect Mexico? 4. Explain and give examples of what is meant by the statement: “Spain and Mesoamerica blended into a New Mestizo Culture”. In other words, how did Spain influence Mexican culture? 5. How do Indigenous groups in Mexico today continue to play a role in its cultural process? 6. Explain at least three or more reasons that motivated the Spanish conquistadors to conquer the New World. 7. Reflect on the role played by Cortes during the Conquest? View his position from positive and negative perspectives. 8. Exactly how did the "Legend of Quetzalcoatl" facilitate the defeat of the Aztecs? 9. Following the route, starting with Cuba, that Cortes took to reach Tenochtitlan and eventually to the confrontation with the Aztecs, which events or factors affected the Conquest the most and where did these take place? 10. Who was Malintzin? Why is the role played by La Malinche in the Conquest considered controversial? Where did she get the name Dona Marina? 11. Why did Cortes leave the city of Tenochtitlan when he had already been invited to stay there? Who did he leave in charge? 12. Explain the events that led to the “Noche Triste” and what were the consequences? 13. Who were the Aztec kings that had contact with the Spaniards? Explain their roles and fate. 14. List and explain the 5-6 reasons that are attributed for the success of by Hernan Cortes. Be sure to give exact details or reasons as to how each helped the Conquest. 15. Both Bartolome de las Casas and Bernal Diaz del Castillo wrote about the Conquest. Who were these men? Explain the differences in their books? 16. What was the Black Legend and who started it? How did it affect European politics? 17. Why were the Spanish explorations into the Southwest limited in scope? Identify 3-4 famous Spanish explorers and their feats. 18. What was the economic, political and social importance of the Conquest on Europe?

COLONIAL RULE 19. What political, economic and social systems were established by Spain in the New World to maintain their control? 20. What role did the Viceroy play in Mexico? 21. Define the economic policy of Mercantilism imposed by Spain on Mexico? What could Mexico do and not do? How did this policy affect Mexico after it gained its independence from Spain? 22. What are the differences between the “Casa de Contratacion” (House of Trade) and the “Consejo Supremo de las Indies” (Supreme Council of the Indies”? Where were these two bodies located? 23. How did mining affect the economic development of Mexico during the Colonial period? 24. Describe the Encomienda system and its impact upon the Indigenous population? How did it 2 differ from the Repartamiento? 25. What were the main birth or racial "labels" used to determine social positions in the society of New Spain? 26. How, when and where did Africans arrive in New Spain? What was their social status? How did they influence Mexican culture? How did slavery differ between U.S. and New Spain? What three religious orders led the effort to Christianize the Indigenous populations of Mexico? 27. What were the main religious orders that led the effort to Christianize the Indigenous populations of the New World? How did they help the Indigenous populations? 28. How were the Mesoamerican religious beliefs similar to the teachings of the Catholic Church? Give examples. 29. Why was the Catholic Church an important political, social and economic institution in Colonial New Spain? Explain each point thoroughly. 30. What were the Fuero Laws and how did these help keep the Catholic Church in a position of political and economic power in New Spain? 31. In what ways did the Catholic Church help the Indigenous populations? 32. How can you explain the statement “the Catholic church in Mexico is a blending of European and Indigenous practices? 33. Who was the Virgin de Guadalupe and how is she significant to Mexican culture? What is her story? Explain the symbols found in her image.

COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE 34. What four factors determined the architectural styles in Mexico during the Colonial period? 35. What are the basic Mexican colonial architectural styles? Describe and give one example for each. 36. Draw the basic floor plan of a “Fortress Monastic Complex”. Indicate each of its elements and define them. 37. Describe the decorative characteristics or basic elements that can be found in a Fortress Monastic Complex 38. Explain the basic differences between the Baroque and the Churriqueresque styles of architecture. 39. Define the “Gridiron Plan” and explain how it affected the society of Mexico. 40. What is meant by minor arts? How did they develop in Mexico? Which ones are still produced?

MAJOR HISTORICAL EVENTS 41. Between 1810-1867 five major events had a great deal to do with the formation of Mexico as a nation. Name each one and explain them briefly giving the names of AT LEAST THREE of the most important personalities involved, the external and internal causes and the results of each event. 42. Describe the political, economic, and social conditions of Mexico before and immediately following the War of Independence. 43. Explain the causes in Europe and in Mexico that led to the 1810 Mexican War of Independence. 44. What was the Queretaro Society6 and what role did it play in Mexico’s history? 45. Who was Father Hidalgo and why is he considered the Father of Mexican Independence? What was El Grito de Dolores? 46. What events occurred in the town of Guanajuato? Who was El Pipila? 47. Name 5 principal leaders in the Mexican Independence movement and discuss the role each played. 48. How did Agustin Iturbide manage to rise to power as emperor of Mexico? Why did he fail? 49. Explain the term “Age of Santa Ana”. What led to his popularity? How did he manage to hold on to his political power? 3 50. What were the 5-6 main historical events that occurred during the Age of Santa Ana and what role did he play in each? 51. Why was Spain so willing to grant Moses Austin the right to colonize Texas? Who was Steven Austin? 52. How did the Colonization Laws passed by Mexico increase the desire of Texans for independence? 53. What were the series of events that led to Mexico's loss of Texas? 54. What roles did the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto play in the loss of Texas? 55. Who were the leaders in Texas that were able to succeed in breaking away from Mexico? 56. What was the Pastry War? What role did Santa Ana play here? 57. What events and/or conditions, both in Mexico and in the U.S., led to the Mexican-American war? 58. What three U.S. generals are noted for playing a significant role in the Mexican-American War and where did each do battle? 59. Who were the "Ninos Heroes" and why are they considered heroes in Mexico? 60. What territories and rights did Mexicans lose to the U.S. as a result of the Mexican American war and the Treaty of Guadalupe? What effect did this loss have on Mexicans both in the Southwest and in Mexico, politically, socially and economically? 61. Explain the rights that were guaranteed to the Mexicans in the U.S. southwest under the three controversial articles of the Treaty of Guadalupe. 62. What was the Gadsden Purchase? How did it affect Mexico? 63. Explain the ideological ideas and/or political differences between the liberals and the conservatives in Mexico during the War of Reform? Who held those ideas? 64. Who was Benito Juarez and what role did he play in Mexican history? What was his background? 65. What were the ideological ideas and/or political differences between the liberals and conservatives in Mexico during the War of Reform? Name specific persons who held those ideas. 66. Explain the aims of the Reform movement in Mexico as written through each of these documents: Plan of Ayutla, Ley Juarez, Ley Lerdo, and Ley Iglesias. 67. Explain the reasons why Napoleon was so interested in invading Mexico. 68. What is the historical significance of Cinco de Mayo? Who were the Mexican heroes? Who led the French troo9ps? Why do we celebrate it in the U.S? 69. Why can one say that Maximilian and Carlota were tragic figures in the history of Mexico? How did the French control end in Mexico? 70. Despite the short period of French occupation of Mexico, how did they affect Mexican culture? 71. Name three women that have been important in Mexican history and relate what they each did? 72. Explain the historical differences between the 16th of September and Cinco de Mayo.

MEXICAN LITERATURE OVERVIEW 73. What kinds of writings did Mesoamericans have before the Conquest? What were the principal themes found in their literature? 74. List the various types of literature of New Spain between 1519-1908 and what specific factors influenced each? 75. What are the four types of writers of the Colonial-Conquest period of literature? Give names and cite works as examples of each. 76. Why is Cortes famous in Mexican literature? What did he write? 77. Identify the author and give your personal reaction on the opinions expressed in the following: "When each is guilty of sin, which is the most to blame? She who sins for payment, or he who 4 pays for the sin? 78. Romanticism (1828-1888) and Modernism (1888-1910) were two literary movements. Define each and tell what role the played in Mexican literature? 79. What are the high lights of Mexican literature after 1910? What does the term “Novels of the Revolution” mean? 80. Name three contemporary Mexican writers and discuss one work of each?

BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. Alcalde 27. El Grito de Dolores 2. Alhondiga de Guanajuato 28. El Pipila 3. Audiencias 29. Encomienda 4. Augustin Iturbide 30. Enlightenment 5. Bartolome de las Casas 31. Estipite 6. Battle of San Jacinto 32. Estofado 7. Battle of the Alamo 33. Father Miguel Hidalgo 8. Benito Juarez 34. Fernando & Isabella 9. Bernal Diaz del Castillo 35. Fortress Monastic Complex 10. Black Legend 36. Freemasons 11. Cabildo 37. Fuero Laws 12. Carlotta 38. Gachupin 13. Cartas de Relaciones 39. Gadsden Purchase 14. Casa de Contratacion 40. Gothic 15. Catholic Kings 41. Gridiron Plan 16. Chapultepec 42. Guadalupe Victoria 17. Chapultepec Castle 43. Hernan Cortes 18. Charles I 44. Ignacio Allende 19. Cinco de Mayo 45. Ignacio Zaragoza 20. Consejo de las Indias 46. Inquisition 21. Criollo 47. James Polk 22. Cuatlihuac 48. Jeronimo de Aguilar 23. Cuautemoc 49. John Fremont 24. Diego Velasquez 50. Jose Maria Morelos 25. Dona Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez 51. Joseph Bonaparte 26. Dona Marina or La Malinche 52. Juan Aldama 5 53. Ley Iglesias 86. Treaty of Cordoba 54. Ley Juarez 87. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 55. Ley Lerdo 88. Viceroy 56. Manifest Destiny 89. Virgin de Guadalupe 57. Maximilian 90. Winfield Scott 58. Men of the Reform 91. Zachary Taylor 59. Mercantilism 92. Zambo 60. Mestizo 61. Moctezuma II 62. Moses Austin 63. Mulatto 64. Napoleon I 65. Napoleon III 66. Ninos Heroes 67. Noche Triste 68. Nueva Espana 69. Pastry War 70. Patronato Real 71. Pedro de Alvarado 72. Peninsular 73. Phillip II 74. Plan de Ayutla 75. Plan of Iguala 76. Plan of three Guarantees 77. Porfirio Diaz 78. Queretaro Society 79. Reconquista 80. Repartamiento 81. Salomonic 82. Santa Anna 83. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz 84. Supreme Council of the Indies 85. Syncretism