MEXICAN AMERICANS

THE MEXICAN WAR

• Mexico cedes portions of the Southwest
• Thousands of Mexicans refused to leave the land
• Lived in communities known as Barrios
• Treated as second class citizens

LIFE IN BARRIOS

• Mexican Americans earned low wages
• Lived in slum like villages
• Lived as second class citizens
• Life was difficult, but familiar

BRACERO PROGRAM

• Designed to solve labor shortage in the U.S
• United States invited Mexican workers
• 4.5 million mexican workers crossed the border
• These workers were called braceros
• Thousands of braceros settled in the U.S

LIFE OF A BRACERO

• 10-12 hour work days
• Awful living and work conditions
• No healthcare or social security
• Faced discrimination

OPERATION WETBACK

• Aimed to deport illegal immigrants
• Responsible for several million deportations
• Many deportees were long time residents
• Mexicn Americans still face discrimation today