Hispanic History
In the United States, the first movement of Hispanic immigrants began after the U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848), which was during the California Gold Rush. As a result of this war, the Republic of Mexico surrendered more than one-third of its former territory under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) to the United States. This included what is now known as the states of California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, and parts of other states. Terms of the treaty offered a blanket naturalization to almost 100,000 former citizens of Mexico who chose to remain north of the new border after the war.
Between 1840 and 1890 migration from Mexico averaged between 3,000 and 5,000 persons per decade. This trend changed once the regional rail systems were expanded and supply of Asian laborers began to reduce because of tightened immigration laws. United States employers began filling basic industry jobs with Mexican laborers, especially in railroad construction and maintenance. Between 1882 and 1900, at least 100,000 Mexicans migrated to the U.S. The Mexican Revolution increased the influx of immigrants from Mexico through the 1930's. Although the historical statistics for this time period are noted as being inaccurate, Mexican census sources illustrate the population movement during this time.
Average number of Mexican nationals living in the U.S per decade:
Combine the above numbers with the descendents of the former citizens of Mexico that became naturalized upon the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the population could have been as high as 1.5 million, with the largest concentrations in Texas, California, and Arizona.
During the Great Depression, Mexican immigrants and their families were pressured to leave the U.S. in a mass repatriation campaign. However, this did not stop Mexican officials from signing an Emergency Farm Labor Agreement, which was dubbed the Bracero Program in the summer of 1942. Mexico essentially came to the United States' rescue as they were facing a significant farm labor shortage as WWII began. This new guest worker program re-opened the southern border to Mexican labor. This guest worker program increased legal and illegal migration to the U.S. from Mexico. Since wages were 7-10 times higher in the U.S., many Mexicans looking to improve their material conditions chose to skirt the contract process.
During the 1960s, “El Movimiento” known as the Chicano Movement occurred alongside the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The Chicano Movements focused of many different issues being faced by Mexican farm workers. It was a civil rights movement which called for rights to better pay and working conditions, enhanced education, voting and political rights, and restoration of land grants to Mexican American farm workers. A well known face, Cesar Chavez, led the fight for Mexican farm workers' rights through the formation of The United Farm Workers' Union (“Facts about Hispanic”, n.d.; “Cesar Estrada Chavez”, 2014).
Between 1840 and 1890 migration from Mexico averaged between 3,000 and 5,000 persons per decade. This trend changed once the regional rail systems were expanded and supply of Asian laborers began to reduce because of tightened immigration laws. United States employers began filling basic industry jobs with Mexican laborers, especially in railroad construction and maintenance. Between 1882 and 1900, at least 100,000 Mexicans migrated to the U.S. The Mexican Revolution increased the influx of immigrants from Mexico through the 1930's. Although the historical statistics for this time period are noted as being inaccurate, Mexican census sources illustrate the population movement during this time.
Average number of Mexican nationals living in the U.S per decade:
- 1900 ~ 100,000
- 1910 ~ 220,000
- 1920 ~ 478,000
- 1930 ~ 639,000
Combine the above numbers with the descendents of the former citizens of Mexico that became naturalized upon the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the population could have been as high as 1.5 million, with the largest concentrations in Texas, California, and Arizona.
During the Great Depression, Mexican immigrants and their families were pressured to leave the U.S. in a mass repatriation campaign. However, this did not stop Mexican officials from signing an Emergency Farm Labor Agreement, which was dubbed the Bracero Program in the summer of 1942. Mexico essentially came to the United States' rescue as they were facing a significant farm labor shortage as WWII began. This new guest worker program re-opened the southern border to Mexican labor. This guest worker program increased legal and illegal migration to the U.S. from Mexico. Since wages were 7-10 times higher in the U.S., many Mexicans looking to improve their material conditions chose to skirt the contract process.
During the 1960s, “El Movimiento” known as the Chicano Movement occurred alongside the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The Chicano Movements focused of many different issues being faced by Mexican farm workers. It was a civil rights movement which called for rights to better pay and working conditions, enhanced education, voting and political rights, and restoration of land grants to Mexican American farm workers. A well known face, Cesar Chavez, led the fight for Mexican farm workers' rights through the formation of The United Farm Workers' Union (“Facts about Hispanic”, n.d.; “Cesar Estrada Chavez”, 2014).
References:
American Latinos and the making of the United States: A theme study. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/latino/latinothemestudy/
Cesar Estrada Chavez. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/cesar-chavez-9245781.
Facts about Hispanic heritage, culture and history. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://gru.edu/diversity/hhm/facts.php
NPS.gov (n.d.) American Latino theme study. Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/latino/latinothemestudy/
American Latinos and the making of the United States: A theme study. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/latino/latinothemestudy/
Cesar Estrada Chavez. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/cesar-chavez-9245781.
Facts about Hispanic heritage, culture and history. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://gru.edu/diversity/hhm/facts.php
NPS.gov (n.d.) American Latino theme study. Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/latino/latinothemestudy/