Question

How did the Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans experience discrimination from WASPs and the Federal Government?

A) They faced no discrimination at all.
B) Discrimination based on their cultural preservation.
C) Discrimination based on their political beliefs.
D) Discrimination due to their foreign appearance.

Answer 1

Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans experienced widespread discrimination in the United States, expressed through systematic disenfranchisement, labor exploitation, and harsh immigration policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The discrimination faced by Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans from WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) and the federal government was multifaceted, including cultural, political, and racial biases. During the westward expansion and well into the 20th century, Mexican Americans were subjected to systemic discrimination, such as land dispossession, infringements on civil rights, and labor exploitation. Government policies like Operation Wetback in the 1950s, which resulted in mass deportations, and imposition of immigration quotas in 1965 further exemplified institutional prejudice. Moreover, measures in the early 20th century, such as the denial of voting rights in Arizona and Texas, segregation in schools, and eugenics-backed initiatives, highlighted the pervasive racial discrimination of the period.