Majority of the Chinese immigrants were farmers, peasants, or craftmen. As a result of the Opium War between Britain and China; China suffered greatly economically due to Britain defeating China. Subsequently, the defeat brought forth not only political unrest, but also, internal rebellions. Chinese immigrants hand come to learn of America’s gold rush. Many dreamed of being able to quickly gain wealth in an effort to support their poor families back in China.
The first immigrants who began arriving from China in 1848 were males. For quite some time very few Chinese women came to the United States due to the fact the Chinese women where physically unable to do the same work as men. As a result of the lack of women prostitution became part of norm for many Chinese men. Well over 90 percent of the immigrants f that era were not only from Canton in South China but from a very few counties centered on the Pearl River Delta there. (Daniels 241) They spoke the language of Cantonese and journeyed to the United States by boat. Most Chinese were “sojourners” (Takaki 129), only intended to stay for a temporary period; in the end, however, many did stay for the rest of their lives. (M4.W3.2205.W2013 77) Every Chinese who came to the United States arrived at Angel Island located in San Franscio, California.
By 1868 the Burlingame Treaty was signed. This treaty between China, Britain and the United States entailed that neither nation state would place an cap one the number of immigrates entering its boarders. Each nation would be completely open and cooperative with an unlimited immigration from the other country. In addition, the treaty captioned that each nations citizens would be able to travel into and reside freely without problems. The treaty also maintained the United States would not concern itself with internal Chinese affairs. It’s through this treaty the influx of Chinese immigrants came to an all time high. Through the treaty the United States received a very inexpensive labor source.
The Term Paper on Opium War Chinese China Trade
Although the Portuguese had established themselves in Macao many years beforehand, the Chinese had not extended the 'privilege' of trade to many other Europeans, until in the 18 th century they opened one port; Canton. Indeed, one can find the origins of the Opium War in that very system at Canton because it created much irritation and frustration for Britain. "An old port, Canton was tradition- ...
Because all Chinese immigrants arrived in San Francisco they made the city home away from home and as a result created the United States first Chinatown. Chinatown was a sector in the city of San Francisco in which the vast majority of Chinese lived. Chinatown in San Francisco retained much of the Chinese culture in China. They were overcrowded slum areas, but as such were not too different from other immigrant enclaves except that the well-to-do urban Chinese lived there too. (Daniels 242) The Chinatown bestowed many shops, organizations, and social entertainment in which the Chinese were accustom to. Chinatown was a place in which many Chinese found not only familiar, but also safe.
In 1848 the gold rush began when gold was found at John Sutter’s sawmill located in what is now California. The gold rush drew in many people from all over the globe, but it also drew in Chinese as well. Motivated with thoughts of being able to build wealth quickly and the ability to support their families in China, Chinese immigration was the new found hope for many Chinese seeking a better life. Because of the gold rush, by 1850, “32 percent of the population of California was foreign-born,” compared to about 10% for the rest of the nation (M4.W3.2205.W2013 73)
After 1849, Chinese began by working the gold mines of California, later moving to service work (laundries, most notably), but Chinese immigrants also helped build the railroads, most importantly they were integral in the building of the Transcontinental Railroad (completed in 1869).
The Essay on Story Of A Chinese Immigrant
After 12 hours of hard labor work, Wong is exhausted and was fast asleep right after he finish every other mine workers laundry. Wong is a Chinese immigrant from China. Back in China he was a farmer peasant, who works 13 hours a day to earn some food for his family. But 13 hours of work was not enough, the crops that he grew is only enough to pay the debt for the land lords, he did not have any ...
(M4.W3.2205.W2013 56) Chinese laborers could assist with bridging San Francisco to all of the Atlantic states. By doing so policymaker Aaron H. Palmer felt this in turn would take the commerce of the Pacific to another level.
Chinese immigrants suffered immensely at the hands of those who were anti-Chinese. They were discriminated against in terms of pay and forced to work under abysmal conditions. White workers viewed them as economic competitors and racial inferiors, thereby stimulating the passage of discriminatory laws and the commission of widespread acts of violence against the Chinese. (Wei)
Anti-Chinese movement embodied the spirit of hate and resentment of Chinese. For example, in 1881 cartoon artist George Frederick Keller drew the “A Statue for Our Harbor”. This cartoon depicts the parody of the “Statue of Liberty” prior to its dedication to the United States in 1886. The artist portrays the Statue of Liberty in the San Francisco Bay because Angel Island was the first pit stop Chinese immigrants made upon leaving China. The rays of light that come from the statues head reflects not only economical, but also social in content. The first ray starting from the right reads “filth”. Filth was a word often used to describe Chinese immigrants appearance and living conditions. The next ray reflects “immorality”.
Immorality was used to describe Chinese due to their country’s dealing with opium and there connections to prostitution. Diseases is what is on the next ray of light. Anti Chinese sentiment was that all Chinese immigrants were disease ridden. The next ray of light labeled is ruin to followed by the ray of light labeled white and finally labor. One at this time can read from the authors viewpoint that Chinese were a ruin to white labor. The base in which the structure stands upon reflects a fort affixed with cannons. The artist links the drug opium to the Chinese by depicting an opium pipe in the hand of what has been deem as the “Statue of Liberty”. This viewpoint was shared along with many others who were anti-Chinese. The ultimate goal of the movement was simply to taunt and drive out the Chinese.
In the spring of 1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress. The execution of this Act prohibited immigrants from freely immigrating to the United States. The Act included not only Chinese, but all other Asians as well. The Chinese Exclusion Act went completely against what the 1868 Burlingame Treaty. The new law was an effort to curtail Asians from freely coming to the United States. As a result of the new Act any Chinese that left the United States would have to apply for certification to reenter the United States. For those who did not leave the country were automatically made permanent aliens oppose to becoming United States citizens. This Act virtually cut off family ties to China for many of the Chinese men who remained in the United States.
The Term Paper on During The Period Between 1820 1860 A Wave Of Immigrants From
During the period between 1820-1860 a wave of immigrants from different countries captured America. For many of them emigrating to the U.S. was the bets solution to escape, as they thought, from poverty. And immigrants arrived as usual without resources, or capital to start their own business. Fortunately, America after the Civil war demands for muscle grunt; so, there was a work for them. Due to ...
Three years after the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1885 a riot broke out at Rock Springs, Wyoming mine. The riot stemmed from the existing racial discrimination of the Chinese and the fear of job loss or lower wages for the white miners. Chinese miners were being paid and accepted much lower wages oppose to their white counterparts. White miners found it hard to compete with Chinese miners willing to accept lower wages. As a result, the company would hire Chinese labors instead of white counterparts. Subsequently, the racial tension blew up into a violent riot between the white miners and Chinese miners. Many Chinese miners either killed or injured. Although the riot began in the mine it eventually moved to the Chinatown area where many homes of the Chinese were destroyed. Although the Rock Springs massacre was one of the most gruesome and violent act of the anti Chinese movement, it was one of many examples of how Chinese immigrants were subject to mistreatment and discrimination.
It would not be until 1943 when the Chinese Exclusion Act was lift with the Magnuson Act. The Act not only allowed Chinese immigrates to begin migrating back to the United States on a quota bases. But it also allowed Chinese immigrates who were already in the United States to become United States citizens. Although, discrimination against the Chinese continued they were finally getting the some of the same benefits other immigrants coming to the United States were entitled to.
Works Cited
Wei, William. “The Chinese-American Experience: An Introduction,” The Chinese America Experience 1857-1892.
http://immigrants.harpweek.com/ChineseAmericans/1Introduction/BillWeiIntro.htm
The Essay on Chinese Immigration
... anti-Chinese riots and pressure, especially in California, for the exclusion of Chinese immigrants from the United ... on their own or labored for other miners. Soon, many opened their own businesses ... with the white people. The Chinese provided a quarter of California's labor force. Chinese labor was ... passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. During this period thousands of Chinese, mostly young ...
George Frederick Keller, “A Statue for Our Harbor” The Wasp, v. 7, 1881.
Wolf, Doug “M4.W3.2205.W2013” HST 2205, Northeastern University, Week 2, Winter 2013. Takaki, Ronald. A Larger Memory: A History of our Diversity, with Voices. Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1998. Print. Roger Daniels, Coming to America (New York: HarperCollins, 2002)
