Farmworkers Paper Revised

Brenda Cuevas
LBS 375
Kristal Cheek
November 11, 2013
Agricultural in California
During the early 1900s, many Mexicans migrated to The United States from
Mexico for agricultural work. There was a major force on the citrus belt. Most of these
migrant workers came to Imperial Valley and San Joaquin Valley. However, the
conditions on the fields were not good for the farmers. Furthermore, in 1942, a massive
amount of Mexican farmers came to California to work on the fields. With cheap manual
labor, Mexican farm owners in California were able to maintain their crops; however, the
Mexican farmworkers stood up for their rights and made an impact in Californias
history.
The major two events that caused immigrant farm workers to come to The United
States from Mexico were The Great Depression and World War II. During the Great
Depression, The United States Economy crashed and the value of money shattered. The
United States needed cheap labor to help the economy rise again. Mexican men and
women are willing to leave their families behind to work on the fields. In 1942, Japan
attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and The United States declared war on Japan and their
Axis Germany. This caused a massive amount of young men and women to fight in the
war. Furthermore, because most of the young men are at war and women are having jobs
as nurses and clergy work, The United States and Mexico signed a treaty called the
Bracero Program.
In 1942 both governments of The United States and Mexico agreed to create The
Bracero Program. According to the worksheet on www.cis,org, this program allowed
Mexican citizens to go work for the United States on the farms. But of course, there were
certain agreements that farm workers needed to do first. The farm workers were only in
the United States temporarily and were needed to return to Mexico when told to. The
workers coming from Mexico also needed to pass a physical exam to make sure that they
were healthy and strong enough for the job. During 1942 and 1964, it is estimated that
4.6 million Mexicans came to work for The Bracero program.
The Bracero Program allowed the Mexican farm workers to work for a minimum
wage of thirty cents per hour. Even though the farmers had a fixed wage, they were not
treated right. The farmers did not have breaks, they were not even allowed water in the
fields. The boss would let all their workers drink water from on cup (a beer can). In
addition, while the farmers were working on the fields, the contractors would send jets to
fly above and drop pest control for the crops. The conditions for farmers were not the
best. In addition, these farmers had to move to farm to farm. When it was season for a
different crop, the farmers had to move. California had schools for families that often
traveled.
The campesinos Mexican farm workers had a person who supported them and
changed their lives. His name was Cesar Chavez. Chavez was an American farm worker
and he stood up for the Mexican workers and made California history. When the Filipinos
American farm workers initiated the Delano grape strike, Chavez supported them. In the
website www.ufw.org, it states that, with Dolores Huerta, Chavez co-founded the National
Farm Workers Association that was later named United Farm Workers union. Chavez
believed in in non-violent tactics to get his message across. He watched Martin Luther
kings speeches and marches. Chavez and the NFWA started a strike on the California
grape pickers. This led a historical march in 1966 from Delano to Californias capitol
Sacramento. This march was a threehundred mile long walk. Later, the UFW encouraged
Americans to boycott all of table grapes. More than fourteen million Americans helped
with the boycotts. When the grapes were boycotted in Delano, the grape industries put
other grapes labels in order for them to sell them. In the website
www.enchantinglearning.com, it states that this grape boycott lasted five years until the
farmworkers got better pay and conditions. Chavez also organized a nation wide lettuce
boycott.
Not only did the campecinos have Chavez to support them, but Robert F. Kennedy
expressed his support for the farm workers as well. According to the film, Viva La
Causa, Kennedy was the senator of New York but loved California. He would give his
support speeches next to Chavez. Kennedy even joined the march from Delano to
Sacramento in 1966. Unfortunately, Kennedy was assassinated at The Ambassador Hotel
in the hotels kitchen in 1968.
At This time, Martin Luther King was leading The Civil Rights Movement. King
was one the revolutionary leaders. According to www.nobleprize.org, he was also a
motivational speaker for the African Americans. His main tactics were to be peaceful and
non-violent. Not only were the Mexican farmworkers discriminated but the African
Americans and any minority group were discriminated against too. Therefore, King stood
up for American Americans and minority groups. Chavez admired how King used nonviolent ways to get a message across. By boycotting, marches, and motivational speeches
King was able to break that barrier that minorities could not reach. Nevertheless, King
was assassinated just like Robert F. Kennedy. He was shot outside of his motel balcony in
Memphis, Tennessee.
Meanwhile, the Mexican farm workers and Chavez were boycotting and
protesting for their rights. In www.tavaana.org, the farmers were protesting for better
conditions in the fields, water breaks, pest control, and benefits. Farmers were also
getting a misery amount of money per hour. After the boycotts and protests, the Mexican
farm workers had won the victory. In 1970, the United Farm Union signed an agreement
with the table grape owners that reinstated more than 10,000 Mexican farm workers jobs.
This was a contract for three years between the table grapes owners. By 1975, The
California Agricultural Act is passed. This law protects farm workers nation wide. Hence,
this is the only law in the United States that protects farmers all over the country.
Although, when the Mexican farmers first came to The United States and not
treated well, the farmers stood up for what they believed in and never gave up. Most of
the Mexican farmers came because of The Bracero Program in 1942. The farmers did not
have any benefits; they would work long hours during the day with no breaks. The
Mexican Farmers had someone to lead them to victory. Cesar Chavez saw how Martin
Luther king lead his marches and protest and did the same with the Mexican farmers.
They both believed in non-violent tactics to succeed. At the end, they were both
successful in achieving in what they believed in. Because of Chavez and Dolores Huerta,
the farmers have rights and benefits. They no longer have to work long hours with no
breaks. The farmers from this era have made California History and this great period is
taught in schools all over The United States.

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