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by TMWNN·7y ago·view on hn ↗
Both NM and CA could expect large numbers of English speakers to outnumber those who spoke other languages. In CA this happened almost immediately, because of the Gold Rush; in NM it took longer. In both cases, English-speaking, common-law government institutions were immediately established upon US annexation.

Had the US annexed Quebec two centuries ago, the massive American population influx into the region would no doubt have assimilated the Quebecois, and today French Quebec would be a bunch of place names around the state, and tourist districts in Montreal and Quebec City. That wouldn't happen today because there is a substantial French-speaking population, and a new large English-speaking influx is unlikely.

And yes, I believe English is fundamental to being part of American culture. That doesn't preclude speaking another language as well. But the descendants of hispanos of New Mexico, Hawaiians in Hawaii, and every other group speak English, and would be the first to tell you of the importance of doing so for personal and societal advancement.

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You write "because of the Gold Rush".

Please do not exclude "and genocide of the Indigenous peoples of California". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Indian_Wars

Your hypothetical analogy to Quebec of two centuries ago fails because the white population of the US would likely not have killed off 90% of the French-speaking population. As it was, we know that the population influx of the Great Migration of Canada of 200 years ago didn't cause the Quebecois to disappear.

You write "In both cases, English-speaking, common-law government institutions were immediately established upon US annexation"

Right, but earlier you wrote "English-speaking US territory", not "English-speaking government institutions". I was objecting to your earlier characterization. NM was not primarily an English-speaking territory.

Now you add "common-law" to the mix. Why is that relevant? Louisiana has a civil-law legal system, not have a common-law one, so it isn't like common-law-only is an essential part of the "unified American culture" you mentioned.