BP2- Hispanic rights. Flashcards
Who were considered to be hispanic americans?
Those with a spanish speaking background. Mostly from Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba.
What was the Bracero programme?
A mexican immigration programme run by the US government which gauranteed mexicans the same wages as existing workers. This did not always work.
Give some reasons for protest against hispanic rights.
- Land: The 1846-48 American-Mexican War was ended by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It settled the border between the USA and Mexico and allocated land. Mexicans living in areas that became American could become US citizens or relocate to Mexico. The issue of land rights in what became New Mexico became a focus of protest.
- Worker’s rights: Hispanic farm workers, especially those in the bracero programme often had appalling living and working conditions. When workers returned after the Second World War, farmers adopted a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude to worker complaints. Most workers had no unions and there was a large pool of illegal migrant workers to call on.
- Discrimination: Hispanic Americans faced the same problem of discrimination as black Americans. In towns and cities, they lived in Spanish-speaking areas (barrios) in the worst parts of town with poor government provision.
- Deportation: The US immigration services from 1953 and onwards deported millions of Hispanic people during Operation Wetback. (3.8 million).
What were barios?
Spanish speaking areas.
What was operation wetback?
The US governments drive to find illegal Mexican immigrants and return them to Mexico.
Who was Cesar Chavez and what did he campaign for?
fought a non-violent campaign for the rights of farm workers, focusing on working conditions. He set up a workers union and organised strikes and marches and protests, He gained publicity while fasting in protest in 1968. He travelled widely speaking to large rallies in cities such as LA.
Who joined Cezar Chavez for the end of his fasting protest?
Robert Kennedy
When did Cezar Chavez conduct his fasting protest?
1968.
Who was Reies Lopez Tijerina?
Organised protests about Mexican land rights in New Mexico. He started with legal protests but when these seemed to get nowhere he held marches, mass demonstrations and camp-ins on National Forest land. He and Black Power leaders signed an agreement to work together.
Who was Rodolfo Gonzales?
focused on race and at first worked for Hispanic rights within the system e.g he was director of the Denver War on Poverty Campaign but he came to favour the more radical methods. His Crusade for Justice stressed the importance of racial identify and the need to fight for Hispanic rights at once. Crusade for Justice influenced a student walk-out in LA in 1966 and much of the direct action by urban youth that followed, including the young citizens for community action which had contacts with the black power movement
What was Gonzales’ crusade for justice?
stressed the importance of racial identify and the need to fight for Hispanic rights at once.
Who were the Brown Berets?
a young, militant organisation set up in 1967 in East LA. Members wore uniform like the black panthers (who also wore berets) and campaigned against police brutality by staging walk outs.
When was the Brown Berets set up?
1967.
When were Cubans ruled as permenant residents in the USA?
1966- Cuban American Adjustment Act.
Impact of Chavezs campaign.
Did improve the conditions of farm workers.
