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Caption: Many Mexican immigrants came to the U.S. for employment.
Date: 1950
Historical Context: While the railroad companies recruited cheap laborers in Mexico, many Mexican immigrants came to California and to the Sacramento area to work in the agricultural fields and canneries. Thousands, mostly from northern Mexico, have immigrated here since 1910 and many are still immigrating, looking for work. Mexican immigrant laborers have been the victims of changing U.S. attitudes. When the economy and employment were good for white Americans, Mexican laborers could work. But when times were bad, they were deported back to Mexico. When there was a scarcity of laborers in World War II, the U.S. government started the Bracero program and recruited Mexicans to immigrate here to work in the fields.
Ethnic Group: Mexican
Place: Sacramento area
Events: Tomato harvest
Names/Biographical Data: Unidentified.
Key Words: sources, river, settle, where from
Image Number: To see a larger version of this picture, see image number 2840 and select the full-size image.
Objects/Items of Note: Tomato crates from the Libby McNeill & Libby cannery.
Image Credit: SMHD, Sacramento BEE Collection