La Matanza (1910–1920) facts for kids
La Matanza ("The Massacre") and the Hora de Sangre ("Hour of Blood") describe a difficult time in Texas history. This was a period of violence against people of Mexican descent between 1910 and 1920. It happened when there was a lot of tension between the United States and Mexico during the Mexican Revolution.
During this time, groups of Anglo-Texan vigilantes (people who take the law into their own hands) and law enforcement, like the Texas Rangers, committed acts of violence. They said they were fighting against "bandit raids" during what was called the Bandit Wars. However, this violence and the denial of basic rights were often based on racism.
The violence by the Texas Rangers was worst between 1915 and 1919. This was partly due to a plan called the Plan de San Diego. This plan was by some Mexican and Tejano (Texans of Mexican heritage) groups who wanted to take over Texas. Many Mexicans in South Texas called this time the Hora de Sangre and fled to Mexico to escape the danger. It's believed that at least 300 Mexican Americans were killed in Texas during the 1910s. Some estimates say the number could be much higher, even thousands. Many of these killings were hidden and not officially reported. Some people in South Texas, who the Rangers thought might be helping rebels, were put on secret lists and often "disappeared."
What Happened After La Matanza?
After this violent period, many Mexican people had fled Texas. This created a shortage of workers for white farmers. To solve this, about 50,000 Mexican laborers were brought into the U.S. by 1920. This was especially important in Texas because many Black workers had moved to cities, so there was a constant need for farm labor.
Even though some Anglo-Texans still showed racism with signs like "Keep out the Mongrel Mexicans," they needed the cheap labor that Mexican workers provided. However, when Mexican workers started to organize and try to form unions (groups to protect workers' rights) in the early 1900s, they faced big problems. Many were deported during the Mexican Repatriation (1929-1936), and they also dealt with daily unfair treatment.
Today, the memory of La Matanza is still important. According to CNN, some descendants of the victims felt that anti-immigrant feelings could lead to new violence. They shared these concerns before the 2019 El Paso shooting, where many people were killed and injured in a shopping mall. This shows how historical events can still affect people's lives and fears today.
