Mexicans in the Midwest

The study focuses on the experiences of the ‘Mexican Generation’ because the majority of immigrants to the region were Mexican nationals. Although the experiences of these nationals varied, some overarching characteristics distinguished them from their counter parts in the Southwest. Mexican immigrants to the Midwest were largely young, unattached males. Most of them saw their stay in the Midwest as temporary; thus, very few sought naturalization or citizenship. Midwestern economics and employment practices made them a highly mobile population. This mobility and the predominance of males profoundly affected the development and dynamics of Mexican communities in the Midwest.