My grandfather immigrated to the United States from Zacatecas, Mexico at the age of 15 to provide for his family and escape poverty. He crossed the Sonoran Desert and settled in East Los Angeles, where he lived in an ethnic neighborhood and met my grandmother. Both my grandparents were Catholic and came to America seeking better opportunities, and my grandfather assimilated to American culture after his arrival.

1. Family History
Project: Part 3
Marina Gonzalez

2. Immigration
• Grandfather originally from Zacatecas, Mexico
• Came to America as an immigrant at 15 years old

3. Waves of Immigration
• Grandfather came to America in the fifth wave of
immigration
• 15 years old

4. Pull Factors
• Main pull factor was to provide a living for his
mother and two brothers
• Traveled across the Sonoran Dessert at 15 years old
• Settled down in East Los Angeles

5. Education
• Grandfather made enough money to put one of his
brothers through school
• His brothers education was another pull factor

6. Poverty
• Poverty was a push factor for both my
grandparents
• Both grandparents came to America to provide for
their families

7. Ethnic Neighborhood
• Grandfather first lived in an ethnic neighborhood
in East Los Angeles
• Met my grandmother there
• Later lived in La Puente

8. Climate
• Climate in Mexico is usually very warm and humid
• Climate in California was warm but not as humid
• Climate in California was another pull factor

9. Port of Entry
• Mexican border was the port of entry where my
grandfather entered America

10. Assimilation
• After my grandfather came to America his lifestyle
changed
• More Americanized

11. Religion
• My grandparents were both Catholic
• Religion is what made my father and his brothers
bond

12. Internal Migration
• Grandparents migrated internally all throughout
East LA
• Father remembers moving to many different homes
and schools

13. Language Barrier
• My father had a difficult time in school at first
• Both his parents only spoke Spanish
• He had to learn English on his own
• Often struggled with homework until he learned to
speak English

14. Thank You!
• Geography 10
• Schmidt