Chinese Exclusion Acts

                            

Marina Egbaria
U.S. History
Mr.Ward

    Chinese Exclusion Acts

  Throughout history there have been many of times when different groups of people have been discriminated against for one reason or another. For example the Chinese during 1892- 1943 were despised by the white man in the USA as a cause of their unbelievable work ethic. This was a characteristic that white miners in particular wish they possessed, and were angry that the Chinese miners had. During the late 1800’s, many restrictions were placed on Chinese who entered the United States and these were known by as the Chinese Exclusion Acts.

During westward expansion, the Chinese played a crucial role. More specifically, the Chinese were very important in the building of the transcontinental railroad. White laborers began to resent the presence of the Chinese workers. They were not welcome by the majority of the white labors as well. This began to lead to many Anti-Chinese riots in most western cities such as, San Francisco in particular. During the first half of the 19th century Chinese immigration to the States was non-existent. This was also around the time when China lost the Opium Wars in 1839-1842. China was also facing a plethora of natural disasters such as, a drought and famine. As a cause of all the terrible events happening to China, many Chinese sought to find work abroad, most specifically in the United States. In 1848 the discovery of gold in Sutters Mill in California was a great opportunity for Chinese to seek money. This was about the time when many Chinese began to identify themselves as miners.

Approximately 25,000 Chinese people made it to Gold Mountain in California to seek mining jobs. Chinese workers were identified as hard workers and they were willing to work long hours for low wages. This was something white workers could not stand for. Many white laborers hated the presence of the Chinese workers and wished to drive them away. When all the agitation began to build up by white workers, the California legislature passed the Foreign Miners Tax. This was passed to limit the amount of Mexican and Chinese miners in the mines. They were all forced to live in segregated communities and were denied the legal rights of attending public schools.

Many white laborers did not like the idea of having low wages for building the railroads. In result, they hired “coolies” who were Chinese laborers. They were very hard working and willing to work the most dangerous/difficult jobs there were. They never showed up late, did not take many breaks, and always stayed in good health. Charles Crocker,who was the chief contractor, began to hire more and more Chinese laborers for the difficult jobs. The number of Chinese workers began to rapidly increase during the 1870’s. 71,328 people in the California population of 550,247 were Chinese.

The first ever law to restrict Chinese people, who immigrated from China, to enter the United States was approved on May 6, 1882. This law required the non-laborers, who wished to come to the US, to obtain a certificate from the Chinese government. This was made mandatory to ensure they were qualified to immigrate, but this also made it difficult for most to prove that they were non-laborers and they weren’t coming to take the whites’ jobs. Later in 1892 the act expired. However, Congress extended it for 10 more years in the form of the Geary Act. Which was later made permanent in 1902. This newer version of the previous law came with much more restrictions for the Chinese, sadly. Congress added restrictions by requiring each Chinese resident to register and obtain a certificate of residence. Without said certificate one could be deported. This Geary Act regulated Chinese immigration until the 1920’s.

Although many White laborers loved the Chinese Exclusion acts they were finally repealed in 1943. This happened during World War II when China and the United States became allies to fight against the superpower country of Japan.

Works Citied

1. (Information excerpted from Teaching With Documents: Using Primary Sources From the National Archives. [Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1989.] pp. 82-85.)

"Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)." Our Documents -Chinese Exclusion Act (1882). Teaching With Documents: Using Primary Sources From the National Archives., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014
http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/551889?terms=chinese+exclusion+Acts+
2. "Chinese Americans." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
3. "Anti-Chinese Movement and Chinese Exclusion: Chinese in California." Anti-Chinese Movement and Chinese Exclusion: Chinese in California. The Bancroft Library, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
4. ”The Exclusion Act of 1882." Http://infoweb.newsbank.com. San Francisco Bulletin - California, San Francisco, n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 1878.
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX-K12&p_theme=ahnp_k12&p_nbid=N6DN62KXMTQxMzkwODA0MC4yNDY1MTQ6MToxNDoxNzMuMTY3LjI0NS44OQ&p_action=timelinedoc&p_docref=v2:0F99DDB671832188@EANX-K12-102FCD184B2C25FF@2430891-102FCD1867A886E4@2-102FCD192E8211A3@Chinese+Exclusion+Repeal+is+Sought&d_doclabel=%22To+Place+China+on+an+Equal+Basis%22

""To Place China on an Equal Basis"" Http://infoweb.newsbank.com. Dallas Morning News - Texas, Dallas, n.d. Web. 15 June 1943.

Pictures

A flyer that was sent out to white folks to ratify the Chinese Exclusion Acts and to suspend all immigration from South East Asia.

Chinese Americans rioting against the Chinese Exclusion Acts.

Angel Island Detention Center where Chinese were held after the Exclusion Acts were passed.

Political cartoon depicting how Chinese were treated in California during 1869.

Anti-Chinese handbill in 1892.