The Hispanic population

About 19 million people living in the U.S.A. (about 8% of the population) belong to a Spanish-speaking ethnic group and name Spanish as their first language. These people are called Hispanics (or latinos). Hispanics form the second largest cultural minority in the United States, after the nation's 30 million blacks. The Hispanic population is younger than the national average, and their birth rate Is higher, so they are the most rapidly growing minority group in the country. In the 1980s, the Hispanic popula­tion grew about 7%. As a result, Hispanics are becoming an increasingly important cultural and political force.

The three largest Hispanic groups in the U.S.A. are the Mexi­cans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans. Mexican-Americana, numbering about 12 million, are the largest of these three. About 70% of Mexican-Americans live in Texas and California, with nearly a mil­lion in Los Angeles alone. New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado also have large Mexican populations.

Mexicans have an important place in American history. They helped establish Los Angeles and many other settlements that lat­er became major American cities. Also, they taught important me­thods of farming, mining, and ranching to Americana who settled in the West. When the Mexican-American war ended in 1848, the peace treaty gave the United States more than 525000 square miles of territory in the Southwest, for which Mexico was paid $15 million. Mexicans living in this area were automatically granted American citizenship. Because of these Mexican-Americans, California, New Mexico, and Colorado all entered the union as bi-lingual states.

Between 1910 and 1930, nearly two million Mexicans immigrated to the U.S.A. During this period, the term Chicano became a form of insult to Mexican-Americans. Today, it is the name Mexican-Americans use to refer proudly to themselves.

The island of Puerto Rico is located about 1,000 miles south­east of Florida, In. 1878, during the brief Spanish-American War, the United States won Puerto Rico (along with Guam and the Phi­lippine Islands) from Spain. Puerto Rico has remained part of the United States ever since. Puerto Ricans are American citizens, and they can travel to and from the nation's mainland without im­migration restrictions. About 2.5 million Puerto Ricans live on the mainland, the majority in or near New York City,

In its relationship with the United States government, Puerto Rico has what is called commonwealth status. It receives protec­tion and assistance from the federal government but has some lo­cal authority over its internal affairs. Puerto Ricans who live оn the island cannot vote in the nation's elections nor do they pay federal income taxes. Among Puerto Ricans, there is disagree­ment about political goals for the island. Some are satisfied with the commonwealth status, some advocate statehood, and others want the island to become independent.

Cuban immigrants and their children make up the third largest group of Hispanics. About one million Cubans now live in the United States. Most of them same here as exiles during or after 1959, when Fidel Castro took over the Cuban government and the country became Communist. Most of the Cubans in the United States live in Southern Florida, Puerto Rico, New York City, and New Jersey, The Cuban population is largely middle-class. Many of these immigrants are educated people with backgrounds in profes­sions or business. As a result, they have had sore economic success in the USA. than many other Hispanics.

Two other sizable Hispanic groups in the U.S.A. are the Colom­bians and the Dominicans (from the Dominican Republic). Colombi­ans are probably the largest group of South Americans living in the USA, numbering about 50_s000. Altogether, there are about-2,2 million immigrants from Central and South America.

Is the USA, Hispanics as a group have manу problems. Because of lower levels of education, difficulties with English, and discrimination, they hold fewer jobs in business and management and earn less money than the average American. Furthermore, they hold relatively few positions in government. National Hispanic organisations are working to unite the various La­tino groups, expand their educational and vocational opportunities, and increase their voter registration and political power.