Chronology xv
train the Dominican military, including the man who will come to
dominate the Dominican Republic for the next 30 years, the eventual
president Rafael Trujillo.
1917 The Jones Act imposes U.S. citizenship on Puerto Ricans and also
requires military service for Puerto Rican men. Young men are sent to
the mainland with their army groups and are introduced to U.S. cus-
toms and culture. For many, this introduction offers a chance to
become more familiar with the United States and nurtures the idea of
possibly moving to the mainland after their military service is
completed.
1922 A strong supporter of women’s right to vote, Adelina Otero Warren
decides to run for Congress in New Mexico in 1922. Though revela-
tions of her divorce, which previously had not been widely publicized,
hurt her campaign, she nonetheless loses by only a slim margin in the
general election.
1923 The Puerto Rican Brotherhood is founded in New York City. The
group’s activities include defending Puerto Rican men incorrectly
charged with being non-U.S. citizens, providing aid to impoverished
Puerto Rican families, and covering the burial expenses of poor Puerto
Ricans.
1924 The National Origins Act severely restricts immigration to the United
States and sets a quota for immigrants from particular countries. As a
result, a major source of workers from Europe and Asia is cut off, leav-
ing many more entry-level manual labor jobs available for Puerto
Ricans, who were newly designated as U.S. citizens in 1917.
1925 Puerto Rico’s first birth control group, Liga para el control de natalidad
de Puerto Rico (Birth Control League of Puerto Rico), is founded by a
socialist activist.
1928 The Imperial Valley Cantaloupe Strike is organized by La Unión Tra-
bajadores del Valle Imperial (Imperial Valley Workers Union).
1929 The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is founded in
Corpus Christi, Texas. LULAC leaders are typically attorneys, restau-
rant owners, teachers, and small business owners. Unlike some groups
that based their organizations on mutual cooperation between Mexican
immigrants and Mexican Americans, LULAC excludes all non-U.S.
citizens from membership. Members also campaign for voter registra-
tion, desegregation of public facilities (“No blacks or Mexicans” was
sadly a common sign in Texas well into the 20th century) and more
representation of Mexican Americans on Texas juries.
When the U.S. economy collapses and the Great Depression begins,
Mexicans, regardless of their citizenship status, are blamed for
supposedly taking “American” jobs and straining government efforts
to support needy families. Local repatriation efforts seek to deport
