MEXICAN AMERICANS

HOW DID THEY BECOME?
In result of the Mexican War thousands of Mexicans refused to leave their land when Mexico ceded portions of the Southwest. The generations of Mexicans born in the US became American citizens.

BARRIOS

• Communities
• Enjoy:
• -Mexican Food
• -Entertainment, Customs
• -Style of Dress, Religion

Bracero program

• instituted by the US during WWII
• intended to solve US labor shortage
• for 20 years Mexican workers came to US
• 4.5 million arrived during the program
• program shut down in 1964 but many stayed

bracero program negatives

• worked agricultural jobs
• families in 1 room shacks
• 10-12 hour days
• 100 degrees with NO water

operation wetback

• US gov & INS work together
• deport illegal immigrants from Barrios
• Barrios became refugees for illegals
• split up families who had illegals