During Word War II the United States was faced with impending labor shortages in the agricultural sector of its economy, as many of its rural workers moved to factories and the front lines in order to support military efforts. Struggling to sustain a rural workforce that would maintain its harvests, the U.S. looked to Mexico as it was facing high unemployment rates and poverty at the time. Together the two governments created what is known as the Bracero Program. Signed on August 4, 1942 the Bracero Program would alleviate labor shortages in the United States by temporarily allowing Mexicans to take up agricultural work in the U.S., in addition to providing the impoverished Mexican people with much needed income for themselves, their families,
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It was then that farmers or their agents arrived to contract workers they needed. Particularly, the ideal worker was stated to be “timid, docile, unlettered, and impoverished. Anybody who was well-dressed or well-spoken would be rejected.” (Mandeel) Chosen Braceros would then be sent to work in fields under less than favorable conditions and circumstances. Particularly, under the Bracero Program workers were promised certain amenities agreed upon by both governments. These amenities included, “free transportation from recruitment centers in the interior of Mexico to the workplace in the U.S., free housing, water, and blankets. Food was to be provided by the employers at cost. Workers were to be paid the local prevailing wage for the type of manual labor, to be established at the beginning of every season. In addition, a minimum salary was guaranteed. Braceros were not to drive tractor, operate machinery or perform any work other than manual labor.” (Mandeel) Although these agreements and services were to be provided to them they were often subpar or ignored …show more content…
but it had its positive outcomes despite the intensive labor and circumstances Braceros had to endure. First it alleviated unemployment in Mexico, “for it allowed over 4 million Mexicans to emigrate.” (Mandeel) Therefore, allowing its people to earn income in order to boost Mexico’s economy. Secondly, it alleviated manpower shortages for farmers because numerous Braceros worked the fields with resulted in no crops to be lost during WWII. Thirdly, it changed the growing landscape because cheap labor became unavailable to farmers after the Bracero Program’s termination that led to the mechanization of agriculture. This resulted in new machines taking over large-scale farming. Lastly, it enabled the growth of U.S. agribusiness. This was due to growers profiting from the work Braceros conducted, thus leading to them increasing the size of their plots of land and being able to afford the expenses of
It was then that farmers or their agents arrived to contract workers they needed. Particularly, the ideal worker was stated to be “timid, docile, unlettered, and impoverished. Anybody who was well-dressed or well-spoken would be rejected.” (Mandeel) Chosen Braceros would then be sent to work in fields under less than favorable conditions and circumstances. Particularly, under the Bracero Program workers were promised certain amenities agreed upon by both governments. These amenities included, “free transportation from recruitment centers in the interior of Mexico to the workplace in the U.S., free housing, water, and blankets. Food was to be provided by the employers at cost. Workers were to be paid the local prevailing wage for the type of manual labor, to be established at the beginning of every season. In addition, a minimum salary was guaranteed. Braceros were not to drive tractor, operate machinery or perform any work other than manual labor.” (Mandeel) Although these agreements and services were to be provided to them they were often subpar or ignored …show more content…
but it had its positive outcomes despite the intensive labor and circumstances Braceros had to endure. First it alleviated unemployment in Mexico, “for it allowed over 4 million Mexicans to emigrate.” (Mandeel) Therefore, allowing its people to earn income in order to boost Mexico’s economy. Secondly, it alleviated manpower shortages for farmers because numerous Braceros worked the fields with resulted in no crops to be lost during WWII. Thirdly, it changed the growing landscape because cheap labor became unavailable to farmers after the Bracero Program’s termination that led to the mechanization of agriculture. This resulted in new machines taking over large-scale farming. Lastly, it enabled the growth of U.S. agribusiness. This was due to growers profiting from the work Braceros conducted, thus leading to them increasing the size of their plots of land and being able to afford the expenses of