Introduction
Hispanic or Latino Americans are a group of people made up of distinct characteristics.
They are a group that is linked to a heritage of common language. Hispanics or Latinos are
defined by the federal government “as a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or
Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race” (United States
Census, 2000).
The Hispanic population rose “from 22.4 million in 1990 to 35.3 million in 2000.” This
was an increase of almost 60%. Of every five Hispanics residing in the United States, two
were born abroad. As of 2000, Mexicans made up three-fifths of the United States
Hispanic population, totaling 20.6 million. Puerto Ricans were the second largest group,
totaling 3.4 million. The third largest group of Hispanics residing in the United States was
Cubans. Their total was 1.2 million. The number of Dominicans residing in the country
was 799,768. According to the United States Census Bureau, Hispanics or Latinos will
make up approximately one-third of this countrys population by the year 2100. (U.S.
Census, 2004).
Linguistics
All Hispanics do not speak Spanish at all times. Some of them do not even know the
language. In 2000, a language other than English was spoken in 75% of Hispanic
households. Ninety-nine percent of those households spoke Spanish. About two in five
Hispanics spoke English “less than very well” (U.S. Census, 2004).
Figure 1
Language Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English: Year 2000
Age 5 and older English at Home Non-English at Home Spoke Very Well Non-English at
Home Spoke Less Than Very Well
Mexican 21.2 35.7 43.1
Puerto Rican 24.6 48.7 26.7
Cuban 13.7 40.4 45.9
Dominican 7.1 39.2 53.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000.
As of 2002, about 23% of the Mexican Americans primary language was English.
Twenty-six percent of them were bilingual, while 51% of Mexican American spoke
Spanish as their primary language. Thirty-nine percent of Puerto Ricans spoke English as
their primary language. Forty percent of Puerto Ricans were bilingual and 21% spoke
Spanish as their primary language. Spanish is the dominant language among Cubans and
Dominicans that reside in the United States. (Schaefer, 2006).
Politics
Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans are the three largest Hispanic groups in the
United States. Each of these groups has a major impact in the political role in the regions
where they have settled. In the past, Mexican Americans have lived in the Southwestern
part of the United States. Puerto Ricans have mainly resided in the Northwestern part of
