Effects Of Communism And California Farmworkers

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Communism and California Farmworkers
As a direct consequence of World War I, which ended in 1918, Communism emerged. Communism is an ideology that combines social and economic systems to what is depicted as an equal society, where an emphasis is placed on production for use . During the Great Depression, in the 1930’s, the lives of many people were changed drastically; the number of unemployed was great, and the amount of employment available was minimum. As a result those who wanted work, took what was available, even if it meant receiving a minimal amount of money just to survive, if that.
Although the farmworkers may have not believed in, or supported the ideology of Communism, it was what California farmworkers needed to improve their lifestyle. Communism played a significant role, not only, in the organization, but also …show more content…

Liberal democracy in Europe fell apart during WWI , and just as it did there the same could have happened in California. Along with the Great Depression, and the devastation it was causing, the communist saw an opportunity, and took it. The fear that became part of communism overshadowed the benefits, as well as the threat against American values, such as the free market, and maximum profits. Laws were created to deter people from striking, such as the Criminal Syndicalism Law. Viewed as terrorists, communism gained much negative attention and received negative connotation in a nation where wealth is valued, and big business rules. The negative connotation was largely a consequence of strikers becoming violent, as well as growers who became involved in vigilante groups. How communism is viewed is dependent, on who a person is; where growers were against it because unionization provided farmworkers a lot of power, but farmworkers supported it because it would improve their life and provide economic

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