Bracero Program Research Paper
Bracero Program
As many Americans were preparing for World War II, Mexican citizens were preparing themselves to migrate from Mexico into the United States. This migration is known as the Bracero Program. The Bracero program took place during WWII and was organized by the United States and Mexican governments that permitted Mexican citizens to temporarily work in the agriculture of the Unites States. This program was the solution to the U.S. labor needs, which was a shortage on manpower that was caused by WWII. Mexican citizens were legally hired to work in the United States, mainly targeting California and Texas. Mexican citizens were eager to work for any pay. The Bracero Program established a cycle of immigration that consisted of migrating …show more content…
Each bracero had their different experiences depending on the states they were sent, it mainly consisted of either agriculture or railroad duties. Some workers faced many difficulties while working in the United States after the Public Law 78 was established. Employers were paid inadequate wages, had horrible standards of living conditions and were mistreated. Many faced racism, in which some cases were physically or verbally abused by local supervisors. Restaurants had signs that prohibited the entrance of Mexicans, and if they entered they force to eat in the back of the kitchen.2 Segregation was very noticeable during this time, Mexicans were treated as African Americans and had to sit with them in the back of a theater or drink from the same water fountain. As part of their contract, braceros agreed to have ten percent of their wages withheld to be put in a savings account. The contract stated, “The respective agencies of the Government of the United States shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the sums contributed by the Mexican workers toward the formation of their Rural Savings Fund, until such sums are transferred to the Wells Fargo Bank and Union Trust Company of San Francisco for the account of the Bank of Mexico, S.A..”1 Many braceros were lied to and never received their money not knowing where these funds went to. By the end of WWII braceros had to return back to their homes and live their old lifestyle they
As many Americans were preparing for World War II, Mexican citizens were preparing themselves to migrate from Mexico into the United States. This migration is known as the Bracero Program. The Bracero program took place during WWII and was organized by the United States and Mexican governments that permitted Mexican citizens to temporarily work in the agriculture of the Unites States. This program was the solution to the U.S. labor needs, which was a shortage on manpower that was caused by WWII. Mexican citizens were legally hired to work in the United States, mainly targeting California and Texas. Mexican citizens were eager to work for any pay. The Bracero Program established a cycle of immigration that consisted of migrating …show more content…
Each bracero had their different experiences depending on the states they were sent, it mainly consisted of either agriculture or railroad duties. Some workers faced many difficulties while working in the United States after the Public Law 78 was established. Employers were paid inadequate wages, had horrible standards of living conditions and were mistreated. Many faced racism, in which some cases were physically or verbally abused by local supervisors. Restaurants had signs that prohibited the entrance of Mexicans, and if they entered they force to eat in the back of the kitchen.2 Segregation was very noticeable during this time, Mexicans were treated as African Americans and had to sit with them in the back of a theater or drink from the same water fountain. As part of their contract, braceros agreed to have ten percent of their wages withheld to be put in a savings account. The contract stated, “The respective agencies of the Government of the United States shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the sums contributed by the Mexican workers toward the formation of their Rural Savings Fund, until such sums are transferred to the Wells Fargo Bank and Union Trust Company of San Francisco for the account of the Bank of Mexico, S.A..”1 Many braceros were lied to and never received their money not knowing where these funds went to. By the end of WWII braceros had to return back to their homes and live their old lifestyle they