ENGL 432 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Bracero Program, Poorhouse, Rancho San Francisco
Document Summary
The braceros program gave 5 million mexicans the right to legally work in us fields. Imposed regulations on pay and ensured they were taken care of, given place to stay as well as have transportation. Imposed age restrictions on those that worked; no younger than 14 also allowed opportunities to receive schooling. Established in 1942 in an effort to meet the demand for manual labor in the us as a result of lack of a labor force. Those that were sent to work were experienced farm workers who did work with the logic that hard labor is what mexicans are good at and intended to do, because it is the only thing they can do. Surrounded in an environment that was highly racist, bad living conditions, and exposure to harsh chemicals without any protection. By the 60"s an excess of illegal farm workers destroyed the practicality and attractiveness of the bracero program.
