Causes Of The Zoot Suit Riots

The zoot suit riots were a serious of conflicts that happened in the 1940’s among Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youths. The pressures of World War II and racial tensions were the cause of the riots. Workers were needed in agriculture and service sectors so the United States brought in temporary workers from Mexico to help but most whites did not welcome them. During the war, various rationing such as restrictions on wool took place. This affected the manufacture of suits and other clothing. There were also regulations that prohibited the making of zoot suits. But certain tailors made them anyways, this caused racial tension and Mexicans who wore these suits were considered un-American because they weren’t supposed