Immigration Acts - What did they do?
President Hoover authorized a special Act to send Mexican-American immigrants back to Mexico.
More than half a million Mexican Americans were forcibly sent back to Mexico during the Great Depression. Many of them may have been lawful American citizens who became separated from their families.
Why did white workers begin to resent Mexican-American immigrants?
With less demand for labor during the Depression, white American farmers were in desperate need of work and sought jobs filled by Mexican-American immigrants. As public hostility to Mexican immigrants grew, it became more difficult for Mexicans to enter the United States. Only 33,000 were granted visas for the entire decade, compared to half a million in the 1920s.
Why did Mexicans want to come to the United States?
How was Mexican immigration during this time period?
Many came to escape the turmoil in Mexico caused by the Mexican Revolution. In the United States, they were generally willing to accept back-breaking work for low wages. Many settled in California, Texas, or the Southwest. In Texas, Mexican Americans were barred from attending "white" public schools. They also faced other acts of prejudice.
Immigration Acts of the 1920s
Mexicans freely entered the United States so long as they passed a medical and literacy test (in Spanish) and paid a small tax.
Had imposed quotas on immigrants from Europe, but not from Mexico or the rest of the Americas.
What did quotas do?
Which part of Europe had the biggest limits on immigration to the United States?
What was the Mexican Repatriation Act? What did it do?
What is your opinion of all of this? Why?