Laredo: 1960s-1970sLaredo: 1960s-1970s

BY Jesse Sandoval BY Jesse Sandoval

Joshua Martinez Joshua Martinez

Luis Gutierrez Luis Gutierrez

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Short Biography Short Biography IntroductionIntroduction War Change War Change Flood: The making of Falcon LakeFlood: The making of Falcon Lake The EconomyThe Economy The Trade The Trade The TechnologyThe Technology Work Cited Work Cited

Short BiographyShort Biography

Juventino Martinez was born in November Juventino Martinez was born in November 24, 1947 in San 24, 1947 in San Ignacio, Ignacio, Mexico. He was Mexico. He was force to leave his home town with his family force to leave his home town with his family after the flood that created Falcon Lake after the flood that created Falcon Lake during the late fifty's. Juventino moved to during the late fifty's. Juventino moved to the United States at the request of his the United States at the request of his brothers and after moving around in the brothers and after moving around in the west part of the country for a few years he west part of the country for a few years he finaly settled down in Laredo in 1968 when finaly settled down in Laredo in 1968 when he got married to his wife. he got married to his wife.

Introduction Introduction

Laredo started out as a small town that Laredo started out as a small town that was mainly used to trade and transport was mainly used to trade and transport good with Mexico. The town would grow good with Mexico. The town would grow and develop a strong trading system and develop a strong trading system with Mexico and other towns and cities with Mexico and other towns and cities in the state, and would also become the in the state, and would also become the most important import and export most important import and export center between the United States and center between the United States and Mexico. Mexico.

War Change War Change

Laredo during Vietnam was very hard for a Laredo during Vietnam was very hard for a lot of Laredo residents because of the draft.lot of Laredo residents because of the draft.

Many of Laredo's people fled to Mexico to Many of Laredo's people fled to Mexico to start life over there while to Mexicans toke start life over there while to Mexicans toke advantage of this opportunity to come to the advantage of this opportunity to come to the U.S and Work.U.S and Work.

As for the ones that stayed, there’s a good As for the ones that stayed, there’s a good chance that they were drafted into the War. chance that they were drafted into the War.

The Great Acuna Flood and The Great Acuna Flood and LaredoLaredo

The Great Acuna Flood did The Great Acuna Flood did not happen during the 1960 not happen during the 1960 but it did have a long term but it did have a long term affect on the Laredo affect on the Laredo community. During the time community. During the time when the flood happen, a when the flood happen, a large quantity of the people large quantity of the people lived in rural areas, like lived in rural areas, like ranches, lived off their ranches, lived off their crops. Many of these crops crops. Many of these crops were ruin by the flood and were ruin by the flood and as a result, residents of both as a result, residents of both side of the boarder had to side of the boarder had to move to a town or city move to a town or city where the local economy where the local economy wasn’t completely wasn’t completely dependent on farming. dependent on farming.

The Economy The Economy

In the 1960s, the prices for gas per gallon was In the 1960s, the prices for gas per gallon was around only $0.14.around only $0.14.

Unlike today where the price of a car goes in Unlike today where the price of a car goes in the thousands, the average car during the the thousands, the average car during the 1960s would cost only a few hundred dollars. 1960s would cost only a few hundred dollars.

The minimum Wage was around 1.10 dollars. The minimum Wage was around 1.10 dollars. During this time, the currency of the United During this time, the currency of the United

States was worth more today than it is today. States was worth more today than it is today.

The Trade The Trade

The trade between the two cities further The trade between the two cities further helped Laredo's economy. The trade would helped Laredo's economy. The trade would then feather help Laredo being noticed by then feather help Laredo being noticed by other big cities and being placed on the other big cities and being placed on the map as an important city. Jobs for Border map as an important city. Jobs for Border Patrol would also open up and proved a Patrol would also open up and proved a chance for many of the citizens to earn a chance for many of the citizens to earn a good pay rate. good pay rate.

Oil BoomOil Boom

During the 1970s and 1980s, it During the 1970s and 1980s, it was discovered that there were was discovered that there were large amount of oil in Texas.large amount of oil in Texas.

The discovery initially helped The discovery initially helped Texas infrastructure but around Texas infrastructure but around the early 80s the price of oil the early 80s the price of oil was dropped which causing was dropped which causing some damage on Texas's some damage on Texas's economy.economy.

Texas remains the strongest oil Texas remains the strongest oil competitor in the United States. competitor in the United States.

Work citedWork cited

www.info.comwww.info.com www.yahoo.comwww.yahoo.com http://www.drchamber.com/live/histohttp://www.drchamber.com/live/histo

ry/acunaflood.htmlry/acunaflood.html http://www.dallasfed.org/research/puhttp://www.dallasfed.org/research/pu

bs/fotexas/fotexas_brown.htmlbs/fotexas/fotexas_brown.html