Donaciano Vigil

Maurilio E. Vigil is a professor emeritus at New Mexico Highlands University. He is the author or coauthor of Hispanics in American Politics: The Search for Political Power, Hispanics in Congress: A Historical and Political Survey, New Mexico Government and Politics, and The Hispanics of New Mexico: Essays on History and Culture. Helene Boudreau teaches courses in history and political science at New Mexico Highlands University. Her scholarly research includes the political and historical study of charter schools in New Mexico and the sociological implications of prosecuting juveniles as adults.

• List of IllustrationsPrefaceIntroductionChapter One. Spanish Origins: Donaciano Vigil as a Link in the Chain of New Mexico HistoryChapter Two. New Mexico Beckons: Restoring the ColonyChapter Three. Conditions in Santa Fe During Donaciano's YouthChapter Four. The SoldierChapter Five. A Political Leader in the Department of New Mexico under the Mexican RegimeChapter Six. The Winds of War in North AmericaChapter Seven. An American Political Leader: Preserving a Civil Government amid an InsurrectionChapter Eight. The Formalization of the American Territorial Civil Government of New MexicoChapter Nine. At Last, the Territory of New Mexico: The Legal, Political, and Cultural TransformationChapter Ten. Assault on a Giant, Part I: Donaciano Vigil and Spanish/Mexican/Pueblo Land GrantsChapter Eleven. Assault on a Giant, Part II: The Los Trigos Land GrantChapter Twelve. Assault on a Giant, Part III: The Cruzate Land GrantsConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

The volume presents the life of Donaciano Vigil and sheds valuable light on the Spanish settlement of New Mexico, the institutional character of Mexican New Mexico, the experience of New Mexico becoming a part of the United States, and early aspects of the American Territory of New Mexico."—Phillip B. Gonzales, author of Poliítica: Nuevomexicanos and American Political Incorporation, 1821-1910