CONSEQUENCES OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION
During the 19th and the early 20th century, Mexican migration was quite popular. At this time immigration wasn't restricted, so Mexicans were free to cross the boarder.
This was welcome news to American employers like the Southern Pacific Railroad, which desperately needed cheap labor to help build new tracks or seasonal agricultural laborers. The railroad and other companies sent recruiters into Mexico to convince Mexicans to emigrate. From 1910 to 1920, the political violence, caused by the Mexican Revolution, also played an important role in the increasing migration northwards.
Economic inequality, rural poverty, low wages and of course the American dream were also significant pulling factors to migrate in the US. But with immigration, the Anti-Mexican sentiment grew along as well.
This was welcome news to American employers like the Southern Pacific Railroad, which desperately needed cheap labor to help build new tracks or seasonal agricultural laborers. The railroad and other companies sent recruiters into Mexico to convince Mexicans to emigrate. From 1910 to 1920, the political violence, caused by the Mexican Revolution, also played an important role in the increasing migration northwards.
Economic inequality, rural poverty, low wages and of course the American dream were also significant pulling factors to migrate in the US. But with immigration, the Anti-Mexican sentiment grew along as well.
https://cfrd8-files.cfr.org/sites/default/files/styles/large_l/public/image/2017/05/TL_Mex_1882.jpg
Mexicans were segregated into urban districts in poor areas. Even though they were important to the U.S. economy and often were American citizens, everything from their language to the color of their skin to their countries of origin could be used as a pretext for discrimination.
The beginning of the Great Depression in the late 1920s, the worldwide economic slowdown and the desperate search for jobs within the USA triggered the Anti-Mexican sentiment drastically.
Anglo-Americans accused Mexicans of stealing American jobs which brought an abrupt end to the special entry allowances that had been made for Mexican immigrants.
The United States forced up to 2 million people of Mexican descent back across the boarder- up to 60 percent of whom were American citizens.
244 words
Comments
Post a Comment