Reading and Writing Workshop
The Southwest During the 20th Century
Session 1: Statehood of Arizona and New Mexico (1912)
Reading:
How did the process of achieving statehood differ between Arizona and New Mexico, and what cultural and political challenges shaped their transition from territories to states?
Session 2: Impact of the Great Depression and New Deal programs (e.g., CCC, WPA)
Reading:
In what ways did New Deal programs like the CCC and WPA reshape the economy, environment, and infrastructure of the Southwest during the Great Depression?
Session 3: World War II—Military Bases, Bracero Program, and Native American Code Talkers
Reading:
Discuss how World War II transformed the Southwest, focusing on the role of military installations, labor migration under the Bracero Program, and the unique contributions of Native American Code Talkers.
Session 4: Post-War Urbanization (Phoenix, Albuquerque, El Paso)
Reading:
How did federal programs and returning veterans after WWII fuel urbanization in Southwestern cities like Phoenix, Albuquerque, and El Paso? Compare the patterns of growth and social impacts across these cities.
Final Project:Write a historical narrative or persuasive essay connecting two or more of the workshop’s topics (statehood, the New Deal, WWII, urbanization) to argue how the 20th century reshaped the identity of the modern Southwest.
Session 1: Statehood of Arizona and New Mexico (1912)
Reading:
- President Taft’s Proclamation of Arizona Statehood (1912)
Source: U.S. Government Printing Office
URL: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1912-pt2-v48/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1912-pt2-v48-1-2.pdf - New Mexico Statehood Proclamation (1912)
Source: Library of Congress
URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.0170400c/
How did the process of achieving statehood differ between Arizona and New Mexico, and what cultural and political challenges shaped their transition from territories to states?
Session 2: Impact of the Great Depression and New Deal programs (e.g., CCC, WPA)
Reading:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chat on Relief Programs (1935)
Source: National Archives
URL: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/197347 - WPA Posters promoting public works in the Southwest
Source: Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division
URL: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/ - Civilian Conservation Corps Reports from Arizona and New Mexico (1930s)
Source: National Archives
URL: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5709398
In what ways did New Deal programs like the CCC and WPA reshape the economy, environment, and infrastructure of the Southwest during the Great Depression?
Session 3: World War II—Military Bases, Bracero Program, and Native American Code Talkers
Reading:
- Selective Service and Training Act of 1940 (impact on Southwestern bases)
Source: U.S. Government Printing Office
URL: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-54/pdf/STATUTE-54-Pg885.pdf - Bracero Program Agreement (1942)
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Historical Documents
URL: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/historical/dol/dol_bracero1942.pdf - Navajo Code Talkers Manual (declassified)
Source: National Archives
URL: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18558245
Discuss how World War II transformed the Southwest, focusing on the role of military installations, labor migration under the Bracero Program, and the unique contributions of Native American Code Talkers.
Session 4: Post-War Urbanization (Phoenix, Albuquerque, El Paso)
Reading:
- Excerpt from the 1950 U.S. Census Report: Population Growth in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
URL: https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch3.pdf - Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and GI Bill Impacts on Southwestern Cities
Source: National Archives
URL: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/2292918 - Post-War Infrastructure Expansion Reports for Phoenix and Albuquerque (1946–1955)
Source: Bureau of Public Roads
URL: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40768667
How did federal programs and returning veterans after WWII fuel urbanization in Southwestern cities like Phoenix, Albuquerque, and El Paso? Compare the patterns of growth and social impacts across these cities.
Final Project:Write a historical narrative or persuasive essay connecting two or more of the workshop’s topics (statehood, the New Deal, WWII, urbanization) to argue how the 20th century reshaped the identity of the modern Southwest.