The Forced Immigration of the Mexican People.
Mexicans like other nationalities have had a difficult experience in their immigration to the United States. But unlike the other nationalities that immigrated to the United States prior to the Mexican influx of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their immigration, I will argue, was somewhat forced upon the Mexican people. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago, which took place in 1848, is what I consider to be the first point in the push for Mexican immigration. This treaty which gave land to the United States from Mexico seized a very large portion of former Mexican land. People who were once Mexican citizens for decades now overnight became American citizens.
Mexicans were also around that time experiencing land consolidation. This made most Mexican Americans unhappy and the decision to move north to the United States was not looking as bad as it once did before the land consolidations. Those Mexican citizens who were not experiencing the land consolidations could not overlook the large possibilities and opportunities that fill the large country to their north. The transportation at the time was beginning to boom with the railroad becoming more accessible, and the job opportunities that were blossoming in the Western part of the United States were simply irresistible to those who were in that immediate area. .
However in Mexico in the early 1900's a man by the name of Portofirino Diaz had taken power in Mexico along with his Authoritarian government. This sent many Mexicans north to the United States and from that Texas became the most convenient but California was the most appealing due to its fruitful lands that would be perfect for plantations and wineries. Also during this time European and Asian immigration had a large drop off leaving a heavy demand for Mexican workers.
While the Mexicans became very large in the Western United States workforce, Mexican leaders began to emerge in support of their people and a fight for their rights began.