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Mexican Migration to the United States of America.

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

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Mexican Migration to the United States of America.

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  1. Mexican Migration to the United States of America.

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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. U.S. Dominates North America

  7. Caribbean Basin

  8. 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

  9. 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)

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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.

  14. 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

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

  16. 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

  17. 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.

  18. 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

  19. 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

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