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The Bracero Program

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How has transnational migration reshaped the relationships that migrating individuals have with their previous communities? Arguably one of the most highly controversial exchanges brought by the United States government on an international scale, is one that not many Americans do not know about, despite the fact that the aftermath of this event plays a major part in their daily lives. Northwest Farm News, September 9, 1943 During the beginning stages of World War II, the United States dealt with an issue of labor shortages which the U.S. government attempted to fulfill both domestically in hiring women to the workforce, and with the aid of foreign citizens who were recruited to meet the agricultural demands required in wartime. In David G. Gutiérrez Walls and Mirrors: Mexican Americans, Mexican Immigrants, and the Politics of Ethnicity , Gutiérrez explains that Mexico was reluctant in joining any labor consensus with the United States without obtaining strong assurances tha
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Artistic Response to The Black Death

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Since the antiquity of mankind's existence, history has shown that whenever catastrophe strikes a population, society's reaction of the time has always been to seek an answer as to why it occurred in the first place. Typically in societies that have no scientific bases in their explanation presume the catastrophe was brought on by divine intervention. When the Black Death hit Europe in 1347 the death toll reached a staggering rate that present-day historians believe wiped out half of Europe's population, with populated cities such as Florence, Milan, and Venice reaching even higher death rates than one half. During a time where disease was found everywhere, and the only certainty in life was death, many people found themselves turning away from their religion, while others found salvation in it. Today historians can study the witnesses of the Black Death experiences, and beliefs through the art they created. The artistic response to the Black Death is one of the most cred
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Trip to the Mission of San Jose

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This past weekend a few friends and I took a trip to San Antonio, Texas. One of our first stops was at the Mission of San Jose. Upon arrival the first structure we saw was the San Jose church placed at the heart of the mission, which rose higher than any structure inside of the mission including the surrounding fort walls. A layout similar to that of Old World Spain, which the Spanish friars had intended to replicate. The San Jose Church with its intricate design, and imposing height, is impossible to be described as anything less than impressive. The Mission of San Jose was established in 1720 named after Saint Joseph, and restructured in the 1930's by the Works Progressive Administration. (Left): Up close picture of carving detail on the main entrance of the Mission of San Jose Church ( Right): Image of the chipping paint on the bottom section of the bell tower In the New World Spanish missions tended to take on a likeness of other Spani
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Sources from the Great War

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As many of you already know 2017 marks the hundredth year since the United States entered into World War I. As a way to commemorate this anniversary the Library of Congress Online Exhibit published a variety of primary source documents originating during the Great War. I chose two pictures to show you that occurred during the Meuse-Argonne battle. The Battle of Meuse-Argonne was responsible for the Allies shift to victory during the Great War, in a series of offensive attacks brought by the combined French and U.S forces, as they pushed their way through the German Army defenses. From the start of the battle on September 26, 1918, until the end of the war a total of 26,277 Americans died resulting in the deadliest battle in U.S history. My favorite account in the online exhibit was that of Irving Greenwald, a first class soldier in the U.S. Army who kept a journal explaining his experiences while in the Meuse-Argonne Battle. In his writings G
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Review: Destiny of the Republic

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In a thrilling tale almost fit for a drama on the big screen Destiny of the Republic a Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President , written by Candice Millard is story that follows the lives of historic characters present during the time of the presidential assassination of James A. Garfield. Millard takes an interesting approach in telling the historic tale by writing on the sides of James A. Garfield, and his assassin Charles Guiteau. Intertwined within the book are also the stories of inventory Alexander Graham Bell, British surgeon Joseph Lister, and American surgeon William Bliss. The beginning of Destiny of The Republic Candice Millard mentions Garfield's early years leading up to the election of 1880. One reason why American citizen greatly admired Garfield was due to the fact that he had humble beginnings which served as a symbolism of American growth and prosperity. Growing up poor, fatherless and the youngest son of homesteaders, Garfield
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