Breaking Through

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Lasting from approximately 1910 to 1920, the Mexican Revolution is considered by many historians to be the defining event in modern Mexican history. What was the war about? Who were the major players, and what were they fighting for? What was the outcome?

Teaching Suggestion: As noted in the resource below, the Mexican Revolution was “a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted ultimately in the end of a 30-year dictatorship in Mexico and the establishment of a constitutional republic.” As such, many Mexican families—like Jiménez’s family—immigrated to the United States in search of a better life and to escape from relentless cycles of poverty in Mexico. If students are unfamiliar with this event in history, it may be helpful to explore these or other resources on the subject before tackling the questions.

• “Mexican Revolution” is an encyclopedia entry that provides an overview of the conflict—its origins, beliefs about the revolution, and outcomes of the conflict on Mexican society and the world at large.