To fully understand the reason for the actions of the reaction to the Bracero program, there must be a brief examination of what was going on in California at the time of the Bracero program. With the war barely kicking off, the United States did their best to adjust to the new conditions put in place from the war. One of the things that was going on in California was the implementation of Japanese internment camps. The interment camps caused a decline in labor in California and also changed the beliefs of immigrants in the United States. World War II changed the way immigrants were viewed and as a consequence caused a negative view of Braceros to evolve.
In the early start of the war, California went through some major changes. One of the biggest changes in California was the increase immigrant labor. “The Second Great War put perhaps 16,000,000 persons under arms and enticed another 15,000,000 migrants to become defense workers or camps followers.”(Pg. 396, Lotchin) This influx of migration was accepted at first but quickly became a problem. Many of the immigrants came to help out in jobs that were losing men to the war. With the absence of men, immigrants took their place and kept production going in large factories and in the fields. After the end of the war, the men returned from battle to find that they had been replaced with cheap labor. This enraged many of the United States citizens returning from the war because they couldn’t find jobs that paid better than the extremely low wages the immigrants were paid. It was reasons like these that caused uproar when Public Law 78 passed. With the extension, many domestic workers didn’t think their situations were going to get any better.
In the early start of the war, California went through some major changes. One of the biggest changes in California was the increase immigrant labor. “The Second Great War put perhaps 16,000,000 persons under arms and enticed another 15,000,000 migrants to become defense workers or camps followers.”(Pg. 396, Lotchin) This influx of migration was accepted at first but quickly became a problem. Many of the immigrants came to help out in jobs that were losing men to the war. With the absence of men, immigrants took their place and kept production going in large factories and in the fields. After the end of the war, the men returned from battle to find that they had been replaced with cheap labor. This enraged many of the United States citizens returning from the war because they couldn’t find jobs that paid better than the extremely low wages the immigrants were paid. It was reasons like these that caused uproar when Public Law 78 passed. With the extension, many domestic workers didn’t think their situations were going to get any better.
This image displays the view of Japanese people during the time World War II was going on. The image shows the rendition of a stereotypical Japanese man. The picture also displays the amount of patriotism the American people by making an offensive sign about the "enemy." This picture is courtesy of sfappeal.com
The start of the war also brought about a lot of patriotism. With the rise in patriotism and the bombing at Pearl Harbor, the United States was skeptical of anyone who wasn’t considered a United States Citizen. “What happened shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, was that powerful forces on the west coast, primarily California, and the states of Oregon and Washington as well, began demanding that all persons of Japanese ancestry be rounded up and sent off to internment camps in desolated areas of the country, largely in desert areas like Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, and Idaho so that they would not be able to assist the Japanese if there was any follow up attack on Pearl Harbor on the west coast.”(Pg. 41, Irons) By detaining all people of Japanese ancestry, it inspired the common idea that everyone of Japanese decent had some connection to the bombing of Pearl harbor. This misconception would later carry on to other races. By generalizing that all people of Japanese ancestry were linked to the attacks at Pearl Harbor, people found it okay to generalize other groups like Mexicans. The internment of Japanese people would allow the U.S. citizens to point fingers and place blame on entire groups of people rather than individuals that actually had something to do with it.
The events going on in California during the time the Bracero program helps give an idea of the atmosphere the Braceros encountered when they came. Placing blame on groups of people for the bad things happening in California originated from the placement of Japanese people in internment camps. By associating an event with an entire race of people, the United States citizens found it okay to blame problems on groups of people. This would be one of the reasons why the Braceros would be discriminated against. The huge increase of immigrants in the labor force also caused hatred for the immigrant labors. California’s history contributed to the bad treatment the braceros faced when they arrived.
The events going on in California during the time the Bracero program helps give an idea of the atmosphere the Braceros encountered when they came. Placing blame on groups of people for the bad things happening in California originated from the placement of Japanese people in internment camps. By associating an event with an entire race of people, the United States citizens found it okay to blame problems on groups of people. This would be one of the reasons why the Braceros would be discriminated against. The huge increase of immigrants in the labor force also caused hatred for the immigrant labors. California’s history contributed to the bad treatment the braceros faced when they arrived.