The Impact of WWII oN Mexican Americans

By:Morgan AringAshlee BowenMilan CabebeHunter EdelenRileigh Varga

U.S History Block 2Loya

Key Content TermsMainstream -the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are regarded as normal or conventional; the dominant trend in opinion, fashion, or the arts.

Bracero Program -was a series of laws and diplomatic agreements, initiated by an August 1942 exchange of diplomatic notes between the United States and Mexico, for the importation of temporary contract laborers from Mexico to the United States.

Barrios -a district of a town in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries

Hardships -severe suffering or privation

Lawless - not regulated by or based on law or not restrained or controlled by law

Milan

OpportunitiesMany Mexican Americans were able to join the war because America needed all the troops they could get.

This Made many Mexican Americans feel they had a chance to “prove their loyalty & become part of the mainstream”.

About ½ a million Mexican Americans served in the war, which in turn gave them respect from their country.

Hunter

Opportunities

● The war fueled Latino migration to the U.S● Mexican women & African Americans gained new job opportunities due to

labor shortages● The Bracero Program (1942) brought Mexicans to the U.S to work in

agriculture & various industries● Over 100,000 contracts were signed between 1943 & 1945 to recruit &

transport Mexican workers to the U.S for work on the railroads● By 1945 the bracero population numbered to about 1,000; most worked on

the Pennsylvania railroad● Laborers had little access to healthcare, recreation, legal aid, and

translators. (Which led to later hardships)

Ashlee

Hardships● Before the war, Mexican Americans were subject of discrimination for the

workforce.● They were still segregated against even during the war, just as Americans

did to anyone with colored skin.● Often lived separated from white people in cities.● Their neighborhoods were called barrios and were entirely self-sufficient,

these neighborhoods were found in poor communities and often had high crime rates.

● Mexican Americans wanted to fit into American customs and they saw the war as an opportunity to do so.

Rileigh

Hardships Mexican Americans had little contact with white Americans. There were many riots between the two groups. Most of the riots were focused on a fashion fad known as “zoot suits.”

“Zoot Suits” were a flat, broad-brimmed felt hat paired with a long suit with large shoulder pads. Many people saw these suits as a symbol of lawlessness.

Pachucos and servicemen from the local navy base often clashed. The servicemen would beat the Pachucos and ripped off their “zoot suits.”

Morgan

Credits

Rileigh & Morgan- HardshipsMilan- Key Content TermsHunter & Ashlee- Opportunities