Chinese Immigration and Exclusion

Chinese Immigration and Exclusion

After the American Civil War (1861-1865) ended, immigrants from various nationalities came to the United States. From 1870-1880 most of the people migrating here came from Ireland, Germany and England. However, even prior to the Civil War, the California gold rush attracted copious immigrants, Chinese immigrants specifically. In 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill which was when the Chinese initially came to the United States. These Chinese immigrants came to the U.S. determined to work; unfortunately, they were eventually prohibited in 1882, when the Chinese Exclusion Act was enforced. Despite the hatred and racism they underwent, Chinese laborers worked as gold miners, railroad construction workers, industrial and agricultural workers, some were even able to develop their own small businesses such as laundries and restaurants.

According to Document A, an anti-Chinese play called "The Chinese Must Go" from 1879, the reason as to why the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was enforced was that they wanted to take over jobs that were rightfully for Americans. However, the script also implied that the Chinese wanted to get rid of or even kill the Americans. maybe they thought that the Chinese yearned to take over America. "White man no work, no money, die - sabee?" According to Document B, a political cartoon by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly in 1871, the reason as to why the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was enforced was because immigrants of other nationalities disliked the Chinese. The cartoon portrays several Irish and German "thugs" wanted to kill a man being protected by Columbia. In the background there is a noose hanging from a tree and there are various signs with explicit words expressing hatred toward the Chinese. "If our ballot will not top them from coming to our country, the bullet must."

According to Document C, a speech to the workingmen of San Francisco from August 1888, the reason as to why the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was enforced was similar to that of Document A. Document C also implies that American citizens wish to banish the Chinese because they are taking their jobs. "This state of thing brings about a terrible competition between our own people, who must live as civilized Americans, and the Chinese..."According to Document D, an excerpt from Lee Chew's autobiography from 1903 called "The Biography of a Chinaman, the reason as to why the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was enforced was similar to that of Document B: jealousy. Chinese labrers were known to be honest, sober, and even talented. Irishman, Germans, Englishman and Italians were not being hired simply because Chinese were a "better" option.