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Chavez's Birth
Born in San Luis, Arizona to Librado and Juana Estrada Chavez. He was the second of six children. His siblings were Rita, Ricardo, Librado, Junior, Helena, and Vicky. The photo is of Cesar and his older sister Rita. -
Family loses farm
His family loses their farm and have to begin working as migrant laborers. A year after this date his family will move to California as farm laborers. -
Chavez Becomes Full-Time Farm Worker
After 8th grade, Chavez quits school to work begin full time farm work in order to support his growing family. At this point his father had been hurt in a car accident and as the eldest son, he had to pick up the slack. -
Chavez challenges segregation
At about age 17, Chavez is already challenging the norm of society. This point in his life when he took a stance against segregation by refusing to sit in the Mexican section of the theatre showed his strength and future in the civil rights fight. -
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Chavez fights in WWII
Cesar joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 for two years as a deck hand in the western pacific. At the end of the war, he was discharged and returned to work in the fields. -
Chavez Joins the CSO
At the age of 25, Chavez joins the Community Service Organization. His job in the organization was to inform migrant farmers of their rights. He helped organize workers to vote and taught them of their rights. He also helped organize 22 new CSO chapters. It ended up becoming his first time full-paying job. -
Chavez Creates the NFWA
Cesar retires his position with the CSO in order to start the first union for farm workers in the United States; the National Farm Workers Association. The motto for the organization was viva la causa or long live the cause. Cesar served as the president and executive officer. -
California Labor Relations Act
Chavez's fight for farm worker equality and rights was a passage way for the California Labor Relations Act. This is the first law in the U.S. to recognize farm workers bargaining rights. It was a big win in Chavez's equalities fight. -
Chavez's Death
Cesar died in his sleep, during a fast, in Yuma, Arizona. He died a short distance from the family farm he was born in 66 years prior. -
Presidential Medal of Freedom Award
After his death, Chavez is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Clinton, for his work as a labor leader. This was one year after his death and the highest civilian award given in the U.S.
