A timeline of key eras and dates relevant to Mexican and Mexican-American family history.
Timelines are helpful for determining the location and provenance of records, and for understanding context surrounding your ancestors’ lives.
General Timeline
Compiled from a variety of online and print sources.
- 1519 – 1521: Conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico by Cortes
- (1521-1821) Viceroyalty of New Spain / Spanish Colonial Period
- (1565) 1st permanent settlement founded in present day U.S., St. Augustine, Florida
- (1598) Oñate established the first Spanish colony in New Mexico
- 1610: Santa Fe founded in the province of New Mexico
- 1718: San Antonio founded in the province of Texas
- 1769: Portolá expedition with Father Serra into Alta California (Mission San Diego)
- (1821) Mexican Independence
- (1821-1848) Mexican-rule of former Spanish provinces in present day U.S.
- (1836) Texas declares independence
- (1846-1848) Mexican-American War
- 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
- Mexico ceded 1/3 of its territory to the U.S.
- (1880s-1900) Increased immigration due to restrictions against Chinese, Japanese, and expanding railway system
- (1906-1908) U.S. starts recording arrivals from Mexican border ports
- (1910-1920) Mexican Revolution prompts first big wave of Mexican immigration
- (Late 1920s – Early 1930s) Forced repatriations to Mexico
- (1940-1944) U.S. Alien Registration program
- (1942-1964) Bracero Program brings 4.6 million temporary agricultural laborers
- (1994) Increased immigration due to NAFTA-displaced farmers
Historical Waves of Immigration & Migration to the United States
Source: U.S. National Park Service
- 1840s: Due to Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the California Gold Rush
- 1880s – 1900: Due to immigration restrictions impacting Chinese and Japanese, and expanding regional rail systems
- 1910 – 1920: Mexican Revolution
- Late 1920s – Early 1930s : Forced repatriation back to Mexico
- 1942 – 1964: Bracero Program brings 4.6 million temporary agricultural laborers
- (1994) Increased immigration due to NAFTA-displaced farmers