1. Zoot Suit Riots
What was the real cause?

2. The Mexican Revolution1910-1920
1 million Immigrants from mexico
Thousands of Mexican-Americans already here before 1848.
By late 1930’s 3 Mil. Mexicans and Mex-Ams
Los Angeles had largest Mex-Am community in U.S.

3. Zoot Suits
By the 1940’s Mex-Am urban youth had formed their own style of speech and dress.
Not traditional Mexican or American
Zoot suits seen by old as excessive flashy
White Service-men see them as antagonistic

4. Mexican American Segregation in ‘40’s
Racial Segregation
Schooling, Housing, Movie theatres, restaurants, swimming pools, etc
Discrimination
Jobs
Criminal justice system

5. Bracero Program 1942
Imported Mexican workers to fill the large agricultural labor shortage during the war.
Govt very concerned about losing the labor force after the riots.

6. Sleepy Lagoon Murder Trial
1 Mexican-American teen murdered
600 Mexican-Am teens detained
Denied due process
Bunk trial, unjust, discrimination
22 mex-ams found guilty of murder

7. Riots begin May and June of 1943
6 months after sleepy hollow
Los Angeles
Thousands of servicemen participated in attacks on zoot suitors
Some Filipino and African Americans beaten too.
500 Mex-Ams arrested
0 servimen arrested
Set off a wave of riots in 7 other u.s. cities