​A Brief Overview of the History of Mexican-Americans Inspired By UnidosPodemos
The Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War started due to the US annexing Texas. The United States would end up winning the war and stole over 500,000 square miles of land.
La Matanza
La Matanza aka. The Massacre were the lynchings of Mexicans by Texan vigilantes during the early to mid 1900s.
Border Patrol Is Created
The US created Border Patrol and made the mere existence of people who just didn't file the right paperwork illegal.
The Zoot Suit Riots
US servicemembers targeted Mexican youths wearing zoot suits in LA. The police stood by and let citizens be beat and killed.
The Bracero Program
The US went back on its word and allowed its citizens to exploit Mexican workers.
Operation Wetback
Operation Wetback was the further criminalization of Mexican and Mexican-Americans as the US citizenry worried if there would be enough jobs for US soldiers returning from war.
The Chicano Movement
The Chicano Movement was a civil rights and empowerment movement to demand better living conditions and reignite pride in Mexican-Americans.