Historical Context
The Bracero Program emerged from a convergence of American labor shortages during World War II and Mexican initiatives for economic modernization and development.
Two Nations, Contrasting Needs
U.S. Wartime Labor Crisis
In the United States, World War II created severe labor shortages as millions of Americans joined the military or shifted to defense industries. Agricultural production, deemed essential to the war effort, faced a critical worker deficit.1
This labor crisis was not entirely new. American agriculture had long relied on Mexican workers, especially in the Southwest. Prior to the Bracero Program, these labor flows were largely unregulated, with periodic deportation campaigns during economic downturns. The wartime emergency provided an opportunity to formalize and expand this labor relationship under government supervision.2
The wartime labor emergency of the early 1940s created conditions where American farmers could successfully push for a government-sponsored foreign labor program.
Kitty Calavita, Inside the State: The Bracero Program, Immigration, and the I.N.S., 1992
Mexico's Push for Modernization
Simultaneously, Mexico was pursuing ambitious modernization initiatives under President Manuel Ávila Camacho (1940-1946). His administration launched programs for industrialization, infrastructure development, and agricultural mechanization intended to transform Mexico into a modern industrial nation. These efforts required substantial capital investment and an organized workforce.3
Infrastructure Development Projects
Mexico's development strategy included major infrastructure projects such as dams, irrigation systems, highways, and electrical grids. Construction on the Miguel Alemán Dam began in 1946 and the Falcón Dam in 1950, both requiring thousands of workers.4
| Infrastructure Type | 1940 | 1952 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highway System (km) | 9,929 | 23,925 | +141% |
| Electrical Grid (MW) | 680 | 1,400 | +106% |
| Irrigation Capacity (hectares) | 267,000 | 886,000 | +232% |
| Major Dams (completed) | 4 | 11 | +175% |
Major Infrastructure Projects Requiring Labor
- Miguel Alemán Dam (1946-1953): Required 5,000+ workers at peak construction
- Falcón Dam (1950-1954): Joint US-Mexico project employing 3,000+ Mexican workers
- Pan-American Highway Expansion (1942-1950): Connected Mexican cities, required 8,000+ workers
- National Railroad Modernization (1945-1952): Employed over 10,000 workers
Industrialization and Urban Growth
Mexican industrialization accelerated during this period. Manufacturing as a percentage of GDP rose from 19.4% in 1940 to 23.3% by 1960. Urban centers, particularly Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, experienced rapid growth as rural migrants sought industrial employment.5
| Urban Center | 1940 Population | 1960 Population | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 1.8 million | 3.4 million | +89% |
| Guadalajara | 241,000 | 736,000 | +205% |
| Monterrey | 186,000 | 601,000 | +223% |
The Contradictory Solution
Against this backdrop, the Bracero Program emerged as a compromise solution that appeared to serve both nations' interests: providing needed agricultural labor to the United States while generating remittances for Mexico's development. However, this arrangement contained fundamental contradictions that would become increasingly apparent as the program continued beyond its intended wartime duration.6
U.S. Motivations
- Urgent wartime agricultural labor shortages
- Desire for controlled, legal workforce
- Protection of domestic food production
- Temporary solution for emergency conditions
Mexico's Motivations
- Access to remittance flows
- Relief from rural unemployment
- Skills and knowledge transfer upon workers' return
- Diplomatic leverage with the United States