"This is the most comprehensive book I’ve ever read about the use of Spanish in the U.S. Incredible research. Read it to understand our country. Spanish is, indeed, an American language."—Jorge Ramos An American Language is a tour de force that revolutionizes our understanding of U.S. history. It reveals the origins of Spanish as a language binding residents of the Southwest to the politics and culture of an expanding nation in the 1840s. As the West increasingly integrated into the United States over the following century, struggles over power, identity, and citizenship transformed the place of the Spanish language in the nation. An American Language is a history that reimagines what it means to be an American—with profound implications for our own time.

Excerpt from Value of Spanish-America to the United States: The Promotion of American Commerce; How to Make the Monroe Doctrine Effective; The Extinguishment of the National Debt in a Few Years, Etc The political power of this country resides in the people. All questions, therefore, of general interest are here referred for decision to the "collective wisdom" of the nation. Whoever may seem to lead the public mind in any great movement is virtually an organ, and his thought an inspiration of the popular will. For nearly half a century the question discussed in the following pages has occupied the attention of our statesmen, and on several occasions has been gravely considered by the Government. Again and again postponed, it has recurred, and will continue to recur until the body of the people shall be aroused to the wisdom and necessity of finally disposing of it. Brought prominently to notice by recent events, its importance seems now to be more generally recognized. From the close of our late war to the present hour, thinking men have been seeking the best remedy for the acknowledged evil of European intervention in American affairs, and for the deterioration of American commerce. The Spanish-American States, under the pressure of a more immediate interest and anxiety, are also enquiring: "How shall we secure to ourselves the blessing of future peace, commercial prosperity and exemption from European interference?" About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.