-
The U.S. Mexican War
United States-Mexican WarThe status of Texas was undecided. The U.S government was unsure to whether or not grant the Republic statehood. To complicate matters, Mexico never formally recognized Texas’ independence. The Mexican government simply viewed Texas as a rebellious territory that they would eventually reconquer. President James Polk wanted to expand the nation in hopes of purchasing California and New Mexico. Mexico declined. Angered Polk sent troops to Rio Grande which then broke out into a battle. -
Immigration
Immigration
The Mexican migratory worker in southwest America is regarded as a necessary part of the bustling harvest season. The need of U.S. employers to import foreign manual labor was heightened first by the expansion of cattle ranches in the Southwest, and by the increase of fruit production in California in 1850 and 1880. This was the start of Mexican immigration into the United States. -
Southern U.S. Border Established
History of Border Establishment
James Gadsden, U.S. minister to Mexico, and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, president of Mexico, sign the Gadsden Purchase in Mexico City. The treaty settled the dispute over the location of the Mexican border and established the final boundaries of the southern U.S. For the price of $10 million, the U.S. acquired approximately 30,000 square miles of land. -
Bracero Program
Bracero Program
The bracero program, Spanish term meaning manual laborer, was a series of laws and diplomatic agreements, initiated by an August 1942 exchange of diplomatic notes between the United States and Mexico, for the importation of temporary contract laborers from Mexico to the U.S. Roosevelt met with Mexican president Manuel Ávila Camacho in Mexico to discuss Mexico as part of the Allies in World War II and the program. -
Operation Wetback
Operation Wetback
Operation Wetback was a repatriation project of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to remove illegal Mexican immigrants, "wetbacks", from the Southwest. During the first decades of the twentieth century, the majority of migrant workers who crossed the border illegally did not have adequate protection against exploitation by American farmers. The government seized over 865,000 illegal immigrants. -
Salt of the Earth
Salt of the Earth Salt of the Earth depicts an emotionally moving portrait of human tenacity and courage that was echoed in real life by struggles of its creators. Movie is based on a 1950 strike by zinc miners in Silver City, New Mexico. Amidst an environment of social injustice. Blacklisted filmmakers united to create the impressively controversial labor film Salt of the Earth, despite severe pressure from McCarthy and the U.S. government. -
United Farm Workers
UFWCésar Chávez organizes the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) in Delano, California. The United Farmworkers Union AFL-CIO (UFW) has a special place in the history of farm labor organizing. It is the only successful union ever established to defend the rights of those who grow and harvest the crops. -
Immigration Act of 1965
Immigration Act of 1965The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the national origins quota system that was American immigration policy since the 1920s, replacing it with a system that focused on immigrants' skills and family relationships with citizens or U.S. residents. Numerical restrictions on visas were set at 170,000 per year, with a per-country-of-origin quota, not including immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, or special immigrants. -
Top Spot in Immigration
Top Spot
Mexican immigration claimed the top spot among all immigrant groups in the 1980 census that was taken in the United States. They continue to outsize other groups. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
NAFTA
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comes into affect, stimulating trade between the United States and Mexico. Massive increases in border populations occur due to the treaty. -
Canamex Trade Route
Canamex Trade Route
Since its inception in 1995, the Canamex Corridor has grown to become the cornerstone for the seamless and efficient transportation of goods, services, people and information between Canada, Mexico and the United States. As the implementation of NAFTA moves toward fruition, the Canamex Corridor will broaden its initiatives to harvest the benefits of increased trade, tourism and economic activity within the region. -
Clinton Signs Declarartion
U.S., Mexico signs pacts Clinton
President Clinton and Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo signed joint declarations on immigration and drug trafficking yesterday during a sun-drenched ceremony designed to produce feelings of goodwill in a neighbor leery of American interference. -
Secure Fence Act
Secure Fence Act Document
The Bill was signed by President George W. Bush to establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States. The President stated, "This bill will help protect the American people. This bill will make our borders more secure. It is an important step toward immigration reform." The act allowed the fences to extend over 700 miles. -
Drug Cartel and Drugs Wars begin in Mexico
Drug War Facts
The Mexican government has been fighting a war with drug traffickers since December 2006. At the same time, drug cartels have fought each other for control of territory. More than 60,000 people have been killed from 2006 to 2012, according to Human Rights Watch. The drug wars are very violent and have affected many U.S. citizens that have traveled into Mexico. -
El Chapo captured
El Chapo captured
The most wanted drug lord in Mexico is captured by the U.S. government. He escaped over 13 years ago and has been wanted ever since. He is responsible for over 75% of the drugs in the United States. -
Obama deports illegal immigrants
Deported
During Barack Obama's presidency, the United States has deported about 2 million illegal immigrants in the five years since he has been in office. The citizens have various opinions on the situation. Some say that he is too aggressive while others think he has done a good thing for America.
