1. Mexican Americans During World War 2
By Enosh C. & Anthony B.

2. Hardships
-Despite being discriminated against, 500,000 Mexican-Americans still enlisted in the army.
-Mexican-Americans generally lived separate from the whites in major cities
-However, tensions were still high between the two
- The Zoot Suit Riots occurred when Navy sailors clashed with Mexicans over the clothes they were wearing
-The whites associated the “zoot suit” many Mexicans wore with street gangs

3. Mexican American’s Opportunities
Many saw the war as an opportunity to show their loyalty to the US
Several were also recognized as war heroes and received many combat rewards

4. Mexican American’s Opportunities
Labor shortages allow Mexican Americans to leave their farms and work in the cities & factories
The Bracero Program allowed for Mexican immigrants to find jobs in the US as farmers

5. Key Content Terms
Zoot Suits: “characterized by a long loose jacket with
padded shoulders and high-waisted tapering trousers”
Pachucos: The Mexican-American teenagers that wore the
zoot suits
Mexican-American GIs: the Mexicans suffered many
casualties, however, many Mexicans received honorable
awards.