Essay on Bracero Program

War creates all kinds of hardships on everyone involved whether it is overseas on the front line or right in our own backyard. During World War II one hardship faced in the United States was the lack of laborers to work the land and other taxing jobs here in the United States. The solution, bring migrant workers from Mexico to complete the work; otherwise known as the Bracero Program. What is the American and Mexican history leading up to the Bracero program? Were these workers paid fair, were they treated fair, and did they benefit in the long term?

Farmers in Texas, such as Nelson, had a strong influence on the level of protection that the government provides the cotton industry. The Bracero program, authorized by Congress in 1942, benefited Nelson’s ranch and other cotton farmers by allowing Mexican labor to enter the U.S. to work for short periods of time. “Disasters happen to cotton but not to people,” (Rivoli, 2014) due to the level of protection provided by the U.S. government to cotton farmers. In 2001, Nelson lost his entire cotton crop to a hailstorm, but government crop insurance ensured Nelson’s farm would survive until the next year.

This was called the Bracero Program. In 1964 this program came to an end because complaints of unions and mexican-american that these forieners were taking their jobs ( history of immigration in u.s). Immigration laws have resulted into leading immigrants to live and work in the U.S but some laws need to be made to legalize those who meet certain criteria.

The treatment of the undocumented workers was extremely poor. Many farm directors broke the program’s contract when it came to the basic necessities that were promised to the braceros. For example, free hygienic housing was suppose to be provided for the workers but many of them live in “chicken coops, markets, dilapidated bunkhouses, tents, barns, stables and shacks without running water, sewers, toilets, or any facilities for bathing” (Mandeel, pg. 176). In regards to meals, the agreement was very clear in proclaiming that $1.75 would be removed from the Bracero’s pay but the maximum deduction that the owner was allowed to remove was $3.00 (Mize, pg. 19). The workers had the option of providing their own mean or paying but, multiple working

them because they were the high power. The Mexicans were treated horrible during that time they

The UFW successfully raised the wages of farm workers by boycotting grapes and inspiring people to fight for what is right. In 1960’s-1970’s the UFW

The UFW movement was successful to a certain point. The United Farm Workers fought for better working conditions and pay. Often times they lived in campsites near the farms in unsanitary conditions. They couldn’t buy groceries in stores that were not farm owned. Furthermore they were promised monitory compensations that often times were not true. They United Farm Workers expected the strikes to be no longer than a week. Little did they know that the strikes would last year’s. Although, they couldn’t afford to be unemployed they decided that it was time to make changes and protest for their rights. Many of the field workers who took part in strikes against farm owners were from the state of California and taxes. It’s interesting to note that

The bracero program was a program that allowed for Mexican workers to come to the United States in order to work agricultural jobs on contract with minimum wage. Farm workers was a complete lie the worker’s rights were violated and mistreated unfair. Although Mexican guest workers were treated like animals and mistreated they still manage to push trough all the struggles the workers faced. Even after been dehumanized by getting sprayed with DDT insecticide through Manuel head to toe body inspection making sure each and every one was healthy to work in what later would be hazard conditions farm workers did their best. They were also racialized into the Mexicans they were how they were viewed by the dominate race the whites as a low wage race

Within the Mexican American parties political participation has been a key factor towards getting representation within the eyes of the government. When people continue to protest for their rights they often show that they have not only begin the race, but they have put an effort to win. Organizations such as the UFW (United Farm Workers) have shown that political change can happen if people organize for a cause they believe in. This boycott showed that Mexican Americans are capable of organizing a group to voice their opinions against the dominant Anglo views. Mexican Americans were heard when they protested for their wellbeing because they were often being exposed to pesticides. Protests like this have shown that the voices of these protests

What is the Bracero program? In 1942 to 19 64 the Bracero program allowed 4.5 million Mexican to take temporary agricultural work in the United States. Every men that was selected had to convert the agricultural fields in the most productive fields. All this men came with labor skills and were hard workers. Many of this men had farms in Mexico but did not provided them enough money to support their family. There was a lot of problems when hiring this Mexican worker, every worker only spoke Spanish and did not understand any English. All the contracts that workers needed to sign to work with farmer owners were only in English and no translator was provided. Farm owners took advantage of this situation and made there worker sign. The workers

The mural depicts Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong along with Cesar Chavez, commemorating the Delano Grape Strike. The Delano Grape Strike in 1965 was initiated by the Manongs under the leadership of Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, who were both known as Filipino-American activists and leaders of Agriculture Worker Organizing Committee (AWOC). Along with other Manongs, they protest for the need to have better working conditions and higher income (Choy, “Remembering the Filipino American Origin”). This strike by the Manongs soon launched the United Farm Workers as they were able to convince Cesar Chavez to join their protest. The association between the Filipinos and Mexicans resulted in a global boycott that started around 1968 (Lott

The Bracero Program was approved by both the Mexican and American government. This contracted mexican workers to work in the United States during World War II. Ten thousands of contracts were made. About 4.5 Mexicans entered The U.S to receive such contracts. The Bracero Program was made to help the temporary labor shortage they had because of the men who were fighting in the war. This is very significant term because previously during the depression The United States had forced many Mexican to migrate back to mexico so Americans could have all the jobs during that times. This connect with our reading and it reveals that during this time the United States is in need of workers because of all the men who went off to fight. It very ironic that

Referring to the website “immigrationtounitedstates.org” in the article “Bracero Program”, we can find that this event was created in the time of World War II on August 4, of 1942, it was initiated by a joint or established by a international program, where the government hired foreign workers that where brought from Mexico. For the reason that many American workers where send to be part into World War II, meaning that this country needed people to replace those empty spaces in order to work temporary.

During the late 1970’s Mexico was a developing country and needed funds to further build itself into a developed nation. Due to it’s potential economic growth international banks funded Mexico to begin building it’s infrastructure.

The Bracero Program was a program designed to accommodate farmers from the U.S. with man power for the harvesting of the fields while their own men were away from home at war. Furthermore, this program provided permission for those men coming in from Mexico to continually work in the U.S. for a total of six months. However, due to the fine print written in on the agreement between Mexico and the U. S. regarding the Bracero Program, it indicated that the U.S. employers would be held accountable to providing certain criteria for the Mexican employees during their employment. In addition, the farmers saw this added incentive as a burden and therefore, looked to less expensive labor, which meant hiring on those Mexicans who crossed the border illegally.