Cesar Chavez Study Guide Vocabulary Important Facts Citizen – an official member of a country Diligence – hard work over a long time Justice – equal treatment under the law Labor Union – an organization of workers who work together for better pay and conditions Migrant worker – a person who goes from place to place in search of work Strike – refusal by workers to work to protest low pay, or poor working conditions Important Facts Born in Yuma Arizona in 1927 The Chavez family owned a farm and a grocery store. They didn’t have a lot of money. During the Great Depression times were so tough that the family lost their farm and store and had to move to California. In California they became migrant farm workers. When they finished harvesting one type of crop, they move to another farm for more work.

1. There is power in numbers. Life for migrant workers was very tough. They had to work long hours in the hot sun. They were given very few breaks and little water to drink. They were paid very little, or nothing at all. If the workers complained about their conditions they could be fired. Cesar Chavez liked school, but never stayed in one school for very long because of his parents job. By the 8th grade he had been to 30 schools. He had to quit after the 8th grade in order to begin working to earn money for his family. He hated the way migrant workers were treated. As an adult, Chavez crated the Community Service Organization. The purpose of the CFO was to get better working conditions for migrant workers. The Community Service Organization believed in 3 things: 1. There is power in numbers. 2. Real change cannot be achieved through violence. 3. There is power in knowledge In 1962, Chavez founded the Farm Workers Association, a labor union that worked hard to get better pay and working conditions for Mexican Americans. They used non-violent forms of protest, such as strikes, boycotts, and marches, to achieve their goals. Chavez worked diligently his entire life to get rights for migrant workers. Cesar Chavez died in 1993. He is remembered today by: 1. The Cesar Chavez Foundation 2. His birthday is a holiday in seven states. 3. The continued work of the United Farm Workers Labor Union. 4. A statue in Sacramento, California.