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Daniel, Cletus E. Bitter Harvest: A History of California Farm workers, 1870-1941. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1981.
The United Farm Workers of America Website praised Cletus E. Daniel's book Bitter Harvest: A History of California Farm workers, 1870-1941 as "well-researched," (accessed at http://www.holtlaborlibrary.org/ufw.html, last modified September 2003). The Journal of San Diego History's book reviewer Lawrence J. Jelinek also praised the sensitivity of the work, as well as its comprehensive nature. (Accessed at http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/83fall/,1983, website last modified September 2003) These reviews both testify to the work's sympathetic treatment of early American labor history as well as its attempt to provide a sweeping view of the California labor movement.
However, none of these reviewers stress what is the most interesting and important part of Daniel's book, which is his stress upon how little Franklin Delano Roosevelt's so-called New Deal benefited ordinary farm workers. Daniels shows how the New Deal was only a New Deal for some Americans, disproportionately benefiting those who lived on the East Coast and selectively benefiting only certain farmers and farm workers, usually only large, land-owning, and labor-controlling farmers. Daniels additionally adds a very important 'racial' component to his analysis of the New Deal. Chicano farm workers in particular were not protected by protective legislation passed in the 1930's because they were often not naturalized citizens or simply did not own any land, unlike the small and large property owners New Deal legislation was designed to protect.
To prove his thesis, Daniels does not simply review the lives of Chicano farm workers of the era. He examines the legislation passed during the New Deal in detail, regarding subsidies to farmers, and also contemporary, primary source accounts of the history of farming in America and how owners were more able to resist the protections offered by unionization for laborers. Daniels shows that the Chicano contribution to the labor movement in America is not recent, but can be traced back to the 19th century. This is evidenced by the personal testimonials, both written and photographic, accessed by the author. Although Daniel's prose is not always easy to read, his thesis is an important reminder for an America that still remains dependant upon transient and immigrant labor to provide its West and East coasts, as well as the world, with food from farms.
It did not actually instigate the Civil Rights Act, which was already under deliberation and passed the year following the march, but it definitely demonstrated the will of the people in regards to the Act. At the same time, the successes of the march were largely symbolic, which has been interpreted by some as meaning that the march was not truly successful. A determination of the March on Washington's success,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to lead the U.S. during a difficult period in the country's history. The Great Depression ruined many individuals in the U.S. And this influenced the authorities in expressing interest in strategies that it could use with the purpose of improving conditions in the country. Both FDR and the Congress acknowledged that adopting an isolationist policy was one of the most effective methods of satisfying people at
Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Roy Jenkins Roy Jenkins, the author of Franklin Delano Roosevelt has had an illustrious career as a politician, academic, and writer which has spanned more than sixty years. He was British, born in Wales, served as a liberal member of parliament, performed service during World War II with distinction, was the Chancellor of Oxford University, and the President of the Royal Society of Literature. His works include
" But, was that what the New Deal promised - to solve all America's social problems? Not at all; in fact, the New Deal was initiated to a) help pull America out of the Great Depression, which it did; b) to put people back to work, some kind of temporary work at least, to give them dignity and food on the table, which it did; c) to help rebuild infrastructure, roads,
The New Deal also created various social programs aimed at helping people get back to work, but also to ensure all those in society were taken care of. Roosevelt created the Social Security Act in 1935 that would provide monthly payments to everyone over the age of 65, and would provide benefits to surviving spouses and disabled people, as well. The Social Security Act is still in existence today and
In addition, the New Deal created many agencies to ensure something like the Great Depression could not happen again. Later in the New Deal Roosevelt created Social Security, and program that continues today. In addition, the New Deal also created the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA). All of these government agencies still exist to ensure safety and security