Friday, March 20, 2020

Mexican Involvement in World War II

Mexican Involvement in World War II During World War II, Mexico played a significant role in the Allied effort. Everyone knows the World War II Allied Powers: the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, New Zealand...and Mexico? Thats right, Mexico. In May 1942, the United States of Mexico declared war on the Axis alliance. They even saw some combat: a Mexican fighter squad fought valiantly in the South Pacific in 1945. But their importance to the Allied effort was much greater than a handful of pilots and airplanes. Significant Contributions It is unfortunate that Mexico’s significant contributions are often overlooked. Even before their official declaration of war- and despite the presence of important German interests in the country in the form of iron, hardware, chemicals, and pharmaceutical companies- Mexico closed its ports to  German ships  and submarines. Had they not, the effect on U.S. shipping might have been disastrous. Mexico’s industrial and mineral production was an important part of the U.S. effort, and the economic importance of the thousands of farmworkers manning the fields while the American men were away cannot be overstated. Also, let us not forget that while Mexico officially only saw a bit of aerial combat, thousands of Mexican  servicemen did fight, bleed, and die for the Allied cause, all the while wearing a uniform of the United States. Mexico in the 1930s In the 1930s, Mexico was a devastated land. The Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives; as many more were displaced or saw their homes and cities destroyed. The Revolution was followed by the Cristero War (1926–1929), a series of violent uprisings against the new government. Just as the dust was beginning to settle, the Great Depression started and the Mexican economy suffered badly. Politically, the nation was unstable as Alvaro Obregà ³n, last of the great revolutionary warlords, continued to rule directly or indirectly until 1928. Life in Mexico did not start to improve until 1934 when the honest reformer Lzaro Crdenas del Rio took power. He cleaned up as much of the corruption as he could and made great strides toward re-establishing Mexico as a stable, productive nation. He kept Mexico decidedly neutral in the brewing conflict in Europe, even though agents from Germany and the United States continued to try to gain Mexican support. Crdenas nationalized Mexicos vast oil reserves and the property of foreign oil companies over the protests of the United States, but the U.S., seeing war on the horizon, was forced to accept it. The Opinions of Many Mexicans As the clouds of war darkened, many Mexicans wanted to join on one side or the other. Mexicos loud communist community first supported Germany while Germany and Russia had a pact, then supported the Allied cause once the Germans invaded Russia in 1941. There was a sizable community of Italian immigrants who supported entry in the war as an Axis power as well. Other Mexicans, disdainful of fascism, supported joining the Allied cause. The attitude of many Mexicans was colored by historical grievances with the U.S.: the loss of Texas and the American west, intervention during the revolution, and repeated incursions into Mexican territory caused a lot of resentment. Some Mexicans felt that the United States was not to be trusted. These Mexicans did not know what to think: some felt that they should join the Axis cause against their old antagonist, while others did not want to give the Americans an excuse to invade again and counseled strict neutrality. Manuel vila Camacho and Support for the U.S. In 1940, Mexico elected conservative PRI (Revolutionary Party) candidate Manuel vila Camacho. From the start of his term, vila decided to stick with the United States. While at first many of his fellow Mexicans disapproved of his support for their traditional foe to the north and railed against vila, when Germany invaded Russia, many Mexican communists began supporting their president. When Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941, Mexico was one of the first countries to pledge support and aid and it severed all diplomatic ties with the Axis powers. At a conference in Rio de Janeiro of Latin American foreign ministers in January 1942, the Mexican delegation convinced many other countries to follow suit and break ties with the Axis powers. Mexico saw immediate rewards for its support. U.S. capital flowed into Mexico, building factories for wartime needs. The U.S. purchased Mexican oil and sent technicians to quickly build up Mexican mining operations for much-needed metals like mercury, zinc, copper and more. The Mexican armed forces were built up with U.S. weapons and training. Loans were made to stabilize and boost industry and security. Benefits up North This invigorated partnership also paid great dividends for the United States of America. For the first time, an official, organized program for migrant farmworkers was developed and thousands of Mexican â€Å"braceros† (literally, â€Å"arms†) flowed north to harvest crops. Mexico produced important wartime goods such as textiles and construction materials. In addition, thousands of Mexicans- some estimates reach as high as a half-million- joined the U.S. armed forces and fought valiantly in Europe and the Pacific. Many were second or third generation and had grown up in the U.S., while others had been born in Mexico. Citizenship was automatically granted to veterans, and  thousands settled in their new homes after the war. Mexico Goes to War Mexico had been cool to Germany since the start of the war and hostile after Pearl Harbor. After German submarines began attacking Mexican merchant ships and oil tankers, Mexico formally declared war on the Axis powers in May 1942. The Mexican navy began actively engaging German vessels and Axis spies in the country were rounded up and arrested. Mexico began to plan to actively join in combat. Eventually, only the Mexican Air Force would see combat. Their pilots trained in the United States and by 1945 they were ready to fight in the Pacific. It was the first time that Mexican armed forces were deliberately prepared for overseas combat. The 201st Air Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the â€Å"Aztec Eagles,† was attached to the 58th fighter group of the United States Air Force and sent to the  Philippines  in March of 1945. The Squadron consisted of 300 men, 30 of whom were pilots for the 25 P-47 aircraft that comprised the unit. The squad saw a fair amount of action in the waning months of the war, mostly flying ground support for infantry operations. By all accounts, they fought bravely and flew skillfully, seamlessly integrating with the 58th. They only lost one pilot and aircraft in combat. Negative Effects in Mexico World War II was not a time of unmitigated goodwill and progress for Mexico. The economic boom was mostly enjoyed by the rich and the gap between the rich and the poor widened to levels unseen since the reign of  Porfirio Dà ­az. Inflation raged out of control, and lesser officials and functionaries of Mexico’s immense bureaucracy,  left out of the economic benefits of the wartime boom, increasingly turned to accepting petty bribes (â€Å"la  mordida,† or â€Å"the bite†) to fulfill their functions. Corruption was rampant at higher levels, too, as wartime contracts and the flow of U.S. dollars created irresistible opportunities for dishonest industrialists and politicians to overcharge for projects or skim from budgets. This new alliance had its doubters on both sides of the borders. Many Americans complained of the high costs of modernizing their neighbor to the south, and some populist Mexican politicians railed against the U.S. intervention- this time economic, not military. Legacy All in all, Mexico’s support of the United States and timely entry into the war would prove highly beneficial. Transportation, industry, agriculture, and the military all took great leaps forward. The economic boom also helped indirectly improve other services such as education and health care. Most of all, the war created and strengthened ties with the U.S. that have lasted to this day. Before the war, relations between the U.S. and Mexico were marked by wars, invasions, conflict, and intervention. For the first time, the two countries worked together against a common enemy and immediately saw the vast benefits of cooperation. Although relations between the North American neighbors have undergone some rough patches since the war, they have never again sunk to the disdain and hatred of the 19th century. Sources Herring, Hubert.  A History of Latin America From the Beginnings to the Present.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962.Mathes, Michael. The Two Californias During World War II. California Historical Society Quarterly 44.4 (1965): 323-31.Niblo, Stephen R. Allied Policy toward Axis Interests in Mexico During World War II. Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos 17.2 (2001): 351–73.Paz Salinas, Marà ­a Emilia. Strategy, Security, and Spies: Mexico and the U.S. as Allies in World War II. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1997

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

What to Expect During a Grad School Interview

What to Expect During a Grad School Interview Knowing what to expect during a grad school interview is key to effectively answering the questions youre asked. Graduate school acceptance rates in 2017 were approximately 22% for doctoral programs and 50% for masters degree programs, according to the Council of Graduate Schools. The interview is your opportunity to show the admissions committee the person you are beyond test scores, grades, and portfolios. Describe Yourself Interviewers often begin by asking applicants about themselves to put them at ease and for the interviewers to get a sense of who the applicants are as individuals. Admissions officers and faculty want to know what motivates you as a student and how your personal interests relate to your goals as a graduate student. Some common questions are: Tell me about yourself.What are your strengths and weaknesses?What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?How would your professors describe you?Describe your greatest accomplishment.Why should we choose you over another candidate?Are you motivated? Explain and provide examples.What would you change about yourself and why?If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Why?What do you do in your spare time?What volunteer experiences do you have?What contribution have you made to your department or school?What was the last movie that you saw?What was the last book that you read? Describe Your Professional Goals Personal questions often segue into ones about your professional plans and interests. These arent limited to the graduate program to which youre applying. Be prepared to talk about what you may do if you arent admitted to grad school as well as what you plan to do upon graduation. Interviewers ask these questions to get a sense of how much thought you have put into your plans. If youre not accepted into graduate school, what are your plans?Why did you choose this career?How will you be able to make a contribution to this field?What are your career goals? How will this program help you achieve your goals?How do you intend to finance your education?What do you plan to specialize in? Describe Your Academic Experiences Academic institutions want to make sure theyre bringing in students who will become positive members of the departmental community and will develop healthy faculty relationships. Your experience as an undergraduate may indicate how good a fit the program is for you. In college, what courses did you enjoy the most? The least? Why?Describe any research project youve worked on. What was the purpose of the project, and what was your role in the project?In what ways have your previous experiences prepared you for graduate study in our program?Tell me about your experience in this field. What was challenging? What was your contribution?What skills do you bring to the program?How will you contribute to your mentors research?Why did you choose to apply to our program?What do you know about our program, and how does it align with your goals?What other schools are you considering? Why?If you could change one thing about your undergraduate college, what would it be?Tell me about a professor who you dont like. Why? Describe Your Problem Solving and Leadership Skills Grad school can be a stressful time for even the most successful students. There will be times when you will be pushed to your intellectual limits and must find your own way forward. Interview questions about your leadership skills and problem-solving abilities are a way for admissions advisers and faculty to understand how you function by yourself and in a group during demanding times. Explain a situation in which you had a conflict and how you resolved it. What would you do differently? Why?What do you believe can be determined about an applicant at an interview?Define success.How well do you handle stress?Discuss a situation in which you showed leadership ability.Do you think one person can make the world a better place? Why or why not?How will you make the world a better place?Explain an ethical dilemma that you faced and how you dealt with it. Tips for a Winning Grad School Interview Experts and academic admissions officers offer these hints for having a positive grad school interview.   Practice your answers: Now that you know some of the questions to expect, think about how youd respond. Write down your thoughts to organize them, but dont memorize them or you might come across as stiff during the interview.Think of relevant personal stories: These stories demonstrate how your life experiences have led you to grad school.Dont forget about funding: Higher education is very expensive, and many graduate programs offer their students teaching assistantships or grants to help them defer costs.Interview your interviewers: You want to make sure youll be studying with faculty who share your academic goals and intellectual interests. Think of questions that youd like to ask about the culture of the program and how students and faculty interact.Be yourself: Youre committing yourself to a year or more of intense academic study, and grad school isnt cheap. If you cant honestly tell your interviewers why you want to be admitted to their program, that may be a sign that that prog ram wouldnt be a good fit. Sources 2017 CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees.Murray, Gregg R. 7 Key Questions to Ask During Your Grad School Interview. PsychologyToday.com. 18 Dec. 2014.Petersons blog staff. Graduate Admission: Tips for a Great Interview. Petersons.com. 29 Nov. 2017.Struefert, Billie. How to Ace Your Grad School Interview. USAToday.com. 20 Feb. 2015.