Mexican Migration to the United States of America.

Mexico – USA: BACKGROUND Napoleonic war ignites struggle for independence Struggle lasts ten years Treaty of Cordoba (1821) Mexico: an independent state)

Mexican Colonization Law (1820 1830) Texas in 1820 – 4,000 Mexicans Solicited immigrants from USA American immigrants could receive a League & Labor of land if they… Became Mexican citizens. Obeyed Mexican laws. Converted to Catholicism Slavery was illegal

Tensions lead to war – Independence April 6, 1830 - the Mexican government forbids further American emigration to Texas. 1835 - October 9, the Battle of Goliad takes place and ends with a victory for Texas. On December 11, the Seige of Bexar ends with the Texans capturing Santa Anna – Mexican president

Mexican/American Relations Mexican American War (1846 -48) Set in motion by US annexation of Texas Fighting was one-sided Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Mexico loses 40% of territory Mexicans living in territory become U.S. citizens U.S. pays $15 million for territory acquired

U.S. Dominates North America

Caribbean Basin

The Great Depression High unemployment rates led to hostility towards Mexican immigrants Deportation – but situation is Mexico is worse Migrant work camps established by U.S. Farm Security Administration Provided necessities Protection Sense of community

Migration Continues despite legal prohibitions Tensions Ethnic groups in U. S. react to growing Mexican community in the cities Zoot Suit Riot in L.A. (1942)

World War II: Immigration from Mexico tolerated Factories lit up to support war effort Need: low-cost agricultural labor Bracero – joint program between U.S. and Mexico to contract laborers for these jobs Popular with farmers 5 million Mexicans came as braceros Once war ended, U.S. deported 4 million immigrants back to Mexico, again This was a larger deportation than during the Depression

lure of Jobs reignites immigration from Mexico Bracero Program (1950-964) Mexicans continue their working relationship with US farmers. Maquiladora program - Factories within 50 miles of U.S. border given tariff preferences developed to curtail the job incentive for new immigration Higher US wages continued to attract migrants Immigration act of 1987 Intended to ensure that Mexican workers here were legal Failure to close border led to increased immigration

Mexican Immigration Surges Present – currently 20 million legal residents of Mexican heritage in U.S. 1990s – more legal immigrants came from Mexico than all European countries combined Illegal immigration surges (10 million plus) Mexican-Americans influence culture in USA Communication – UNAVISION Jobs in most professions Public office (Sonia Sotomayor – Supreme Court ) Projections: within two generations, over 25% of the U.S. residents will be of Mexican origin – largest part Mexican

The Wage Comparison The minimum wage in Mexico is about 57 cents an hour. About 12.5 times less than that in the USA. This offers a huge incentive for immigrants to come here to work and send money home to their impoverished families. Economic crisis in Mexico in 1994 exacerbated the wage differential.

Economic Crisis of 1994 Devaluation of the Mexican peso Occurred on the watch of Mexican President Carlos Salinas Gortari Insurgent rebellion in Chipas shook the nation

Lack of Foresight De Gortari launched a high spending splurge Lax banking surrounded the government loan 20 % over specualation of the Peso

Recovery/Aid NAFTA almost derailed $50 billion dollars in loans/aid issued – mostly from the U. S. Loans quickly repaid, but recovery difficult Wages fell sharply

Effects on Population Movement Migration to the U.S. (much of it illegal) increased Family connections channeled new migrants The more Mexican people that migrate, the larger the network becomes Many Mexican women migrate after their husbands have established themselves n the U.S.

Effects on Population Movement: Women Female migration to the United States increased Rapidly catching up with the number of male migrants Low paying jobs (seamstress, maids) Prostitution U.S. role dates back to prohibition Relatively high-paying - $100 per day) Violence remains a concern

Mexican Migration: What is Unique? While the United States is a nation of immigrants, we have never has one foreign nationality come in so rapidly and in such numbers Potential to change U.S. culture and institutions is unprecedented