Mexican Migration to the U.S. in 1910-1930

One of the most interesting and persistent phenomena that happened in Southwest in the 20^th century was immigration from Mexico. The migration of Mexican laborers to America began with the construction of Mexican railroads that connected the United States border towns with Mexico City. The number of laborers rose greatly with the completion of Mexico’s National Railroad to the border by the 1880’s.

Although the migration was ongoing in the beginning of 20^th century, the immigration had its first major imputes during the period 1910- 1930. In 1900, about 100,000 person of Mexican descent lived in the United States. By 1930, the number had reached 1.5 million. The Mexican Revolution in 1910 stimulated a large movement of Mexican immigrants to the Southwest. Unsettled by social and economic conditions in their homeland, Mexican laborers was attracted by better compensation in the United States. Southwestern industry often paid common laborers five to ten times more than similar industries paid in Mexico. However, push factor of Mexican exodus coincided with pull forces in the United States which was economic development in Southwest. Economic development in the Southwest, principally in California, Arizona, and Texas, was spurred by better irrigation, expansion of transportation systems, and the demands of World War I. An analysis made in 1912 by journalist Samuel Bryan emphasized that “immigration from Mexico was due to the expansion of industry, both in Mexico and the United States.

Once America entered the World War 1 and the size of Army had been determined, the demand of economy became obvious. To fulfill shoulders’ need of food and clothing, gun and ammunition, places to train, and means of transport, the contracts immediately began flowing from the Army to the private sector. As the demand of production increased, the demands of laborers increased too. In order to fulfill demand of labors, many businesses recruited Mexican. The demand of laborers even increased as the War ended. As the First World War ended, America was in a fortune position because it had not directly damaged American society. It had led to increase the world demand for American goods. This resulted in the rapid growth of industry and farming. For the growth of industry and farming, more and more Mexican laborers were recruited.

The wave of more than a million immigrants between 1910 and 1930 led to confrontation between southwestern industries, which needed casual labor, and organized labor, which opposed Mexican immigration for economic and racial reasons. In three different years, 1917, 1921, and 1924, Congress reduced Oriental and European immigration. However, agriculture, transportation, and mining industries successfully negotiate to prevent restriction of Mexican immigrants. Throughout this era, Mexican laborers alleviated labor shortages in unskilled and skilled occupations in the Southwest and also in some industries in the Midwest.

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Sources :

Singer. Allan, A Brief History of Immigration to the United States, Department of Curriculum and Teaching Hofstra University School of Education

Ornelas. Michael R, Beyond 1848, Reading in the Modern Chicano Historical Experience,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/usa/boomrev1.shtml Retrieved 12 June 2014