help in Chicano culture

Chicano

Student’s Name

Professor’s Name

Institution

Date

The Depression and Labor Activism in the Early 20th Century

Barrera, Chap. 3 “19th Century, Part II; The Establishment of a Colonial Labor System” ” pp. 34-53only

1. What was the major transformation in the U.S. economy during the second half of the 19th Century and what were the factors leading to this transformation?

The major transformation in the U.S. economy during the second half of the 19th century was industrialization (Barrera pg 34). There are a number of factors that facilitated industrialization. The first factor includes technological development. The second factor is the civil war. Civil war, according to the chapter, resulted in consolidation of power on the northern industrial and commercial class, and this facilitated industrialization. Improvement of infrastructure also played a role in industrialization (Barrera pg 35). Mining, agriculture and development of railroads in Southwest is also another factor that facilitated industrialization (Barrera pg. 35-38)

2. What were the three major economic trends during this period in the Southwest and what part of the Southwest did they take place? Identify and elaborate on each of these economic trends.

The three major trends include: agriculture and ranching, railroad and mining (Barrera pg 35). Agriculture and ranching. Ranching was common in California, Texas and New Mexico. Colorado and Arizona. Ranching was enhanced by the fencing of lands. In California, ranching was a way of earning income and also a way of managing rising population (Barrera pg 35). On the other hand agriculture was common in Texas and California. There were also agricultural activities in Arizona. It entails the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, cotton, grains (Barrera pg 35). Agriculture significantly created employment for many people. Cotton was commercialized in Texas whereas fruits and vegetables were commercialized in California (Chapter 3 pg 36). Railroad is another major trend that was noted. According to the chapter, between1869 and 1893, five railroads established transcontinental connections, and some of these routes passed through the Southwest (Barrera pg 37). Building railroads was a significant activity to many people because it led to employment of many people (Barrera pg 37). It also promoted agriculture and mining. The last trend in Southwest entails mining. Sources indicate that lumber industry became more important as century was coming to an end (Barrera pg. 37). California had the first great gold rush After Mexican American War (Barrera pg. 37). There was also silver and copper mining in Arizona. There was also silver mining in New Mexico (Barrera pg. 37). Gold was common in Colorado (Barrera pg. 37). Mining, like agriculture facilitated employment.

3. What were the five “aspects”of a colonial labor system? Be able to define each of these aspects.

The five aspect of colonial labor system include: labor repression, the dual wage system, occupational stratification, Chicano’s as a reserve labor force and the buffer role (Barrera pg. 40).

Labor repression was a technique used to keep the miners in a more or less perpetual state of debt and thus making them unable to leave (Barrera pg. 41). The employers use stores where they could raise the price and at the same time lower the wages (Barrera pg. 41).

Dual wage system, on the other hand, was a practice of paying one wage to minority and another wage to nonminority yet they are doing the same thing (Barrera pg. 41). In other words, it is a system where minority was classified as “cheap labor” (Barrera pg. 42).

Occupational stratification is where certain kinds of jobs were classified as suitable minorities and others as suited for nonminorities.

Chicano’s as a reserve labor force- The idea of Chicano being used a reserve labor force was prompted by the fact that employers wanted to ensure that they have enough labor for security (Barrera pg. 47). Chicano could be used to act as elasticity to the labor force, so that as the demand for labor increases the work force can be expanded, without having to compete for labor and thus drive up wages (Barrera pg. 47).

Buffer role, on the other hand, was the final aspect of a colonial labor system whereby minority workers were used as buffers or “shock absorbers” in times of economic dislocation (Barrera pg. 48).

4. Barrera asserts that it was in the employers’ interests to use racial differences to pit “Anglo” workers against “minority” workers. On what arguments does he base his assertion?

He bases this assertion on the manner in which Anglo workers were paid and the kind of occupations they were assigned in relation to the minority workers.

Chapter 4 “From the Turn of Century to the Great Depression” only to page 76

1. Identify in Chapter 4 the major transformations and the major economic trends in the Southwest economy as well as the aspects of the colonial labor system which were initially raised in the previous chapter.

The major transformation and economic trends identified in chapter 4 include: agriculture and ranching, mining, the railroads, and the urban/ industrial occupations (Barrera pg. 76).

2. What were the factors “pushing” Mexican from Mexico, and what were the factors “pulling” Mexicans to migrate to the U.S?

Labor in the United States was the major “pulling” factor that forced Mexican to migrate to the U.S (Barrera pg. 70). On the other hand, political upheaval associated with Mexican revolution of 1910 and 1920 (Barrera pg. 68).

Identify these terms and explain them and include the page numbers:

Terms:

Capitalist System – This is a system comprising of economic elite and working class people (Barrera pg. 56).

Mercantilism- This is large scale ownership and trade of goods or products (Barrera pg. 56).

Triangle Trade- This was trade between Europe Africans and Americans.

Colonization- colonization was a process of ruling over a given grout hence depriving them of their independence (Barrera pg. 56).

Reference

Barrera, Chap. 3 “19th Century, Part II; The Establishment of a Colonial Labor System”

Barrera, Chapter 4 “From the Turn of Century to the Great Depression”