This worksheet is based on Imperial Valley College’s (IVC) Professor Cynthia Spence’s lecture on Ceasar Chavez, the Bracero program, and the development of unions.

Caesar Chavez and the Fight for Farm Workers’ Rights

Caesar Chavez was a prominent American labor leader who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, later known as the United Farm Workers (UFW), advocating for the rights of farmworkers. One of the significant issues he addressed was the exploitation and poor working conditions faced by farmworkers, particularly those who participated in the Bracero Program, a guest worker initiative.

Fill in the Blank: Fill in the blank with the correct words.

1. Caesar Chavez was a key figure in the fight for ___ rights.
2. The Bracero Program brought Mexican ___ to work in the United States.
3. The United Farm Workers (UFW) aimed to improve the working conditions of ___.
4. Caesar Chavez organized boycotts to raise awareness about ___ issues.
5. Farmworkers joined together to form ___ in order to advocate for their rights.

Word bank: rights, workers, labor, immigrants, unions

Multiple Choice Questions: Choose the correct answer from the choices for each question.

6. What was the main goal of the United Farm Workers (UFW)?
   A. Increase farm production
   B. Improve working conditions for farmworkers
   C. Expand the Bracero Program
   D. Decrease wages for laborers
7. Why did Caesar Chavez organize boycotts?
   A. To reduce the number of farmworkers
   B. To raise awareness about labor issues
   C. To increase profits for farmers
   D. To promote the Bracero Program
8. What was the purpose of the Bracero Program?
   A. To encourage immigration to Mexico
   B. To provide jobs for American citizens
   C. To recruit temporary agricultural workers
   D. To decrease the number of farm unions
9. How did farmworkers benefit from unionization?
   A. They faced harsher working conditions
   B. They had better job security and rights
   C. They received lower wages
   D. They had limited access to healthcare
10. What impact did Caesar Chavez and the UFW have on the labor movement?
    A. They led to the abolishment of all guest worker programs
    B. They inspired other labor unions to fight for worker’s rights
    C. They supported the exploitation of farmworkers
    D. They discouraged workers from organizing

Open-ended questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

11. Why was the Bracero Program controversial, and how did it impact farmworkers?
12. How did Caesar Chavez’s leadership style contribute to the success of the United Farm Workers?
13. In what ways did unionization help improve the lives of farmworkers in the United States?

Answer Key:

1. labor
2. immigrants
3. workers
4. labor
5. unions
6. B. Improve working conditions for farmworkers
7. B. To raise awareness about labor issues
8. C. To recruit temporary agricultural workers
9. B. They had better job security and rights
10. B. They inspired other labor unions to fight for worker’s rights
11. The Bracero Program was controversial because it brought temporary immigrant workers, often leading to lower wages and poor working conditions for farmworkers in the U.S.
12. Caesar Chavez’s leadership style involved nonviolent protests, fasting, and grassroots organizing, which motivated farmworkers and attracted national attention to their cause.
13. Unionization helped improve the lives of farmworkers by providing them with collective bargaining power, better wages, improved working conditions, and a stronger voice in advocating for their rights.