Final answer:
Early leaders in New Mexico were primarily focused on ensuring equal protection and civil rights recognition for Hispanics, in line with landmark court cases that extended Fourteenth Amendment protections to all racial groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hispanic Rights in the New Mexico State Constitution
The two main Hispanic rights that early leaders were most concerned about protecting in the New Mexico State Constitution were equal protection and civil rights recognition. This concern is rooted in the historical context of Hispanic and Latino struggles for equality within the United States. Notable legal cases such as Hernandez v. Texas played a pivotal role in these efforts, where the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously concluded that the Fourteenth Amendment protects all racial groups, thereby extending equal protection to those of Mexican ancestry. This case underscored the existence of a 'special class' of citizens entitled to such protections under the Fourteenth Amendment. Moreover, the Mexican American civil rights movement in the 1960s, with victories such as Mendez v. Westminster and the mentioned Hernandez v. Texas, further established the legal rights for Hispanic populations, emphasizing the necessity for the New Mexico State Constitution to protect these rights.