Dreams From Many Rivers Time Line
"Conquest Means Cruelty" by Pedro de Acevedo (1493)
"Never Enough” by Ponce De Leon (1521)
A cabin boy on Colombus's third expitidion discusses how the Spaniards came to Boriken (Puerto Rico) to acquire spices and slaves from the Taino people who are native to Puerto Rico. 
Ponce de Leon describes how he has conquered the Tainos and enslaved Africans. How he has aqcuired large sums of gold,silver and copper. In 1521 he traveled to Florida which he had discovered in 1513 in hopes of finding the fabeled fountain of youth and establishing a Spanish fort. He died that year by a Native American arrow. He and Spain had a never ending hunger for power and resources.
“Choosing Sides” by Domingo (1680)
“Healer” by Juana Briones (1812)
"Wondering About the Future" by Apolinaria Lorenzana (1822)
"Transfromed" by Jose Sanchez (1851)
"So Close" by Catalina (1898)
Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1822. The citizens were thrilled but left worried as there was talk about sending Spanish missionaries and priests back to Spain. This was in issue has rural farmers depended on them.
In 1680 mestizos and pueblos in New Mexico chose to revolt against Spanish rule. This was because they were stripped of their religious pracitces and were treated poorly. People found it easy to choose sides because it was either hope or the misery of Spanish rule.
“ Rejected” by Isabel Gonzalez (1904)
In the 1850s, American settlers found gold in California. The U.S. army followed them and forcefully removed any of the Natives Americans, or former Native Mexicans, from their lands so that miners could have access to gold mines.
Puerto Rico had just gained some freedom from Spain and began self-governing. Then when Spain lost the Spanish-American War, it gave Puerto Rico and Guam to the U.S. and the self-governance was over.
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Juana Briones a medical practioner from Santa Cruz California and the mother of San Francisco discusses how as a child she grew up at a mission. Soldiers would ride by bolstering support for the Mexican War for indepence. At the mission she learned basic medicine and milked cows. She was one of the early settlers to arrive in Yerba Buena (San Francisco) and without her medical experience the town may not have survived. )
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Isabel was detained at Ellis Island because Puerto Rico was in a strange gray zone where it is not a state or a foreign nation. She just wants to live with her fiancé in America. There is also the question of if her baby will be considered an American citizen or not
“The Great Depression” by Emilia Castaneda (1933)
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Even with all of his years of experience working in Los Angeles, Papi still got laid off. The family also risks being deported. The kids of the family were born in the United States and speak English, what does this mean for them? They identify as Americans first but still face discrimination.
“War Hero” by Macario Garcia (1947)
He landed on the beaches of Normandy. Fought across France. Received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Medal of Honor. He got no recognition of this back home. He came home to signs that said “No dogs, No Mexicans”. They attempted to remove him but he fought to stay.
7.8b As the nation expanded geographically, the question of slavery in new territories and states led to increased
sectional tensions. Attempts at compromise ended in failure.
This poem is talking about U.S. Westward expansion into California. You could use it to provide a different perspective on the traditional version of the effects of expansion into California.