Hist 44 The Mexcian-American in United States History · •Zoot-Suit Riots in Los Angeles –The “zoot suit” riots showed limits of tolerance. –Clyde Duncan, Harlem, inspired

Today’s Topics • Review: World War II

• Zoot-Suit Riots (read articles online)

• Intro Paragraph Due. Oct. 23 (Return)

• The End of Mexican Schools

• Exam 2 Thursday

1

Mexican Migration

• Pearl Harbor

– On December 7, 1941 Japanese planes launched from aircraft carriers bombed the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

– FDR asked for a declaration of war against Japan.

4

The Home Front • Mobilizing for War

– World War II transformed the role of the national government.

• Business and the War

– The West Coast emerged as a focus of military-industrial production.

5

M-5 tanks on the assembly line at

a Detroit Cadillac plant

• Women at War

– In 1944 women made up over one-third of the civilian labor force.

– New opportunities opened for married women and mothers.

6

War on the Home Front

Executive Order 9066 • 1942 Executive Order 9066

– Ralph Lazo at Manzanar Camp

• The Bracero Program 1942-1964

– The bracero program allowed contract laborers to cross into the United States to work.

– Purpose is to relieve the labor shortage during WWII.

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• Zoot-Suit Riots in Los Angeles

– The “zoot suit” riots showed limits of tolerance.

– Clyde Duncan, Harlem, inspired by the film Gone with the Wind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mM8iNarcRc

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zKP-_oIADg

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orhf_Xv6HCA

10

War on the Home Front 1949 Sign

Texas

Sleepy Lagoon case 1942-1944

• On August 2, 1942 Jose Diaz was found dead in the Sleepy Lagoon.

• The young Mexican Americans were convicted. Aztec rituals were used as evidence of the violent nature of Mexican Americans

• In October, 1944, the Court of Appeal of the State of California reversed the convictions,

Zoot-Suit Riots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ioNLZME5sM

• 1943 Los Angeles disturbances, Pachuco Riots

• June 3, 1943 sailors attacked Mexican-Americans, and stripped them of their suits.

• By June 9 State Department declared Los Angeles off limits to military personnel

• Factors, racial prejudice stimulated by police practices and inflammatory newspaper reports

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot/eng_sfeature/sf_lamap.html#

“The Pachuco and Other Extremes”

• What does Paz think about the Mexican Community in Los Angeles?

• How does Paz defined the Pachuco?

• What does Paz think about the Pachuco?

• Do you agree with Paz’s view of the Pachuco? Why or Why not?