Lesson 2, Mexicans and Californios (for Resources #2-17 -- #2-20):
 

When students examine the images and respond to the "Artwork Inquiry," they may overlook some significant features. The teacher can then prompt them by asking probing questions. The following are designed for specific images. Students' responses may vary, but possible responses are given in brackets. Encourage them to develop and use a sense of historic empathy. 

Fandango (color painting by Charles Christian Nahl) 

1. If this is representative of life on an early California rancho, how would you describe life in Spanish and Mexican California? (Economically depressing? Socially exciting? Boring?) What is a fandango? 

[Americans visiting California before 1848 described the easy life of the Californios, often criticizing them for enjoying such a leisurely life when they could more energetically exploit the resources of the region for greater economic benefit. Gracious living in Hispanic California would have been possible for owners of land grants. Like Southern plantations, ranchos were fairly self-sufficient, using cheap Indian labor. Life would have been less idyllic for poor working people. A fandango was a lively Spanish dance, but even Americans traveling overland to California wrote about having a "fandango"a party with music and dancing. 

2. How would an American who has traveled many miles overland or by boat view this life? 

[Very desirable; many Americans and other foreign men married daughters of Californio landowners.] 

3. If you had lived on a rancho like this, how might life have changed for you after California became an American possession? 

[Many Californios eventually lost their land due to squatters, claim jumpers, faulty registration of their land grants or because of taxes during the early American era. In many cases, their status changed from proud ranchers and farmers to lower-class citizens.] 

Portrait of Lola Montez (ambrotype) 

1. What do you know about her? 

[Students might infer that she is Spanish; they might have heard of her, but might be fuzzy about it. Others might remember that she was an entertainer.] 

2. What about her makes you think that she is Spanish? 

[Her name, perhaps her dress or how she looks; this is a good example of how a name can create an inaccurate image. She was actually born in Ireland, and after an adventuresome young life, went to Spain briefly to study the language and the dance, then assumed the name of Lola Montez. She led a colorful life in Europe and in America, masquerading as a great Spanish dancer.] 

Portrait of a Spanish Woman (ambrotype) 

1. What can you infer about this person? How can you tell that she is Spanish? 

[She looks like an aristocratic Hispanic person, but we can tell only by her looks and by the title of this ambrotype.] 

Part II, Probing Questions for Resources #2-17--#2-20

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