Hispanic Americans and Native Americans Section 19.2
Today’s Agenda Finish 19.1 Complete 19.2 –What we don’t get done must be finished for homework!!!! –I’ll will collect 19.1 and 19.2 tomorrow (15 points) –So wake up and let’s get this done!
Should undocumented workers be allowed to stay and work in the US?
Who made up the Hispanic population of the US in the 60s and 70s? 5 major groups –Mexican Americans –Puerto Ricans –Cuban Americans Central Americans South Americans Shared language, culture, religion Differed geographically/ economically/politically
How did they get here? Mexican Americans –Great grandchildren of Mexican War –Baraceros (farm workers) invited during WWII –Undocumented (illegal) Aliens Puerto Ricans –Already American citizens –Most arrived after WWII seeking work –Settled in NY city Cuban Americans –Fled Cuba after Cuban Missile Crisis thousand per week –Mariel Boatlift (1980) 130 thousand came Most settled in Miami
What political issues did Hispanics face in the 60s and 70s? Gerrymandering –No voice in government (representation) Bracero Program Ended –Temporary work visas stopped after 1965 –Undocumented workers continued to enter US Coyotes (guides) Often robbed or exploited them for lots of $ Exploitation –American farmers exploited them –Poor conditions, little pay, no protection A crowd of Mexicans in Mexico City wait to register for the U.S. Bracero program, circa 1943.
Cesar Chavez Presentation
Who was Cesar Chavez? Leader of United Farm Workers Knows as a “quiet explosion” Unionized farm workers Called on Americans to boycott farm products to help him negotiate better pay and working conditions
Describe the state of Native Americans in the 1960s and 70s. Population soared between –550 thousand to almost 800 thousand 66% lived off reservations (in cities) 38% = lived in poverty –12% was national average 50% = unemployment 50% = dropout rate 46 = Life expectancy Alcoholism, suicide rates were highest in nation
American Indian Movement (AIM) Presentation
What happened at Wounded Knee in Feb, 1973?
Armed Sioux seized control of small town in South Dakota (Wounded Knee) Site of massacre of Sioux by US marshals in 1890 Sioux were supported by American Indian Movement (AIM) –Militant Indian group US marshals surrounded town –Wanted to starve them into submission Results –2 Native Americans killed –1 US marshal wounded –Focused public attention on deplorable condition of Native Americans &q=wounded+knee&pl=true