...It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of the semester already, this semester is really flown by. I guess they had to reflect on what I’ve learned throughout the semester, one of the things I learned was how Americans treated Chinese immigrants in the early days of our country. Some of them are treated no better than slaves yet they help build one of the lifelines of American progress the US railway. When the biggest lessons I’ve learned this semester is that we should always treat people the way we would want to be treated and it’s sad that people come to our country a short hundred 50 years ago seeking a better life for them and their family and all they found was prejudice hatred and scorn, I believe our countries come a long way since then that we have a long way to go when it comes to racial issues but I think if we all take time and look at our past we can see a brighter future....
Words: 467 - Pages: 2
...Why did Chinese immigrate to the United States? After civil war had settled down, many immigrants came to America to live from many countries such as Germany, Ireland, and England. There are as many as 12 million immigrants at this time. Regarding Chinese immigration, they immigrated to the United States from 1849 to 1882. Between this period, America had California Gold Rush, which is one of the reasons Chinese people immigrated. Because the Chinese Exclusion Act was taken into practice, no more Chinese people could immigrate to the United States after 1882. Chinese immigration is the divergent point for Chinese’ lives who lived in America. The main reason Chinese immigrants came to America after Civil War was for work. As a consequence, most of the Chinese immigrants were single men. Especially in California, Chinese people arrived. There is the promise of gold in California during 1850s. It was called California gold rush. After they gained money in America, they usually went back to their country. Chinese immigrants began doing their own business such as running restaurant and laundries. In addition, they started their agricultural laborers. Even though the hard work such as transcontinental railroad construction that connects the coast to coast did not give them good pay, they just work for money. There were two large rail road companies in the United States at this time: Central Pacific and Union Pacific. They began competing as soon as congress took the Pacific Railroad...
Words: 1053 - Pages: 5
...children (second generation). In history, during the nineteenth century, Chinese travel to America for financial solutions, with hopes to return to their home with money. As time moves ahead, Chinese immigrants to America searching for a better life, for instance, my parents immigrated to America, who then conceived us as the second generation. With pressure from the parents, children of the second generation were forced to perfect both the American and Chinese culture to their very best. The second generation Chinese Americans were American born, but were still outcasts of the American society because of their skin color. The lives of the children of immigrants who immigrated to America have had stressful impacts from their parents and society because of their parent’s expectations of a perfect child who succeeds in school, and the society’s rejection of their ethnicity. From the old days until now, millions of people around the world have decided to immigrate to the United States in search of a better life. The reason why Chinese people immigrated to America due to the rumors of opportunity to gain higher wages jobs within America which would help support their families who were struggling to survive in China. According to Hubert Howe Bancroft, in 1848, the Chinese immigrants came to California for the opportunity to obtain gold from the Gold Rush (32). The Chinese immigrants had not planned to stay in America, but were there only to obtain enough gold to buy land in China for their...
Words: 1378 - Pages: 6
...New In America Paper Stephanie Turner-Smith SOC/262 September 21, 2014 Sharon Chappelle New In America Paper America is a nation of immigrants. From the early colonists to the current entrants, indigenous and cultural diversity is plentiful. When this nation was still undeveloped, the settling population was of the same background; they were white, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant background. Over time, Northern Europeans wanted entry, and eventually, Eastern and Southern Europeans, Asians, South and Central Americans came to America by the thousands. The American medley, what we call the melting pot was gradually emerging, but during progression, differences became noticeable. Such differences involved varied religions, races, and ethnic heritage. Two groups that I have researched are Chinese and Armenian immigrants. Chinese immigrants came to America in the mid-19th century. Chinese came to settle in California to join the Gold Rush that originated at Sutter’s Mill in Sacramento, California. But once the gold lessened, they came to seek work. The Chinese immigrants were mostly farmers who left china due to the economy and governmental dilemmas in China. Most anticipated on working hard, earn a large portion of money, so they could return back to country with their families as well-off men. During this time, the Chinese was no different than any other immigrant who came to America. They lived in neighborhoods and communities yet the Chinese maintained their culture. But...
Words: 1123 - Pages: 5
...The Chinese Exclusion Act There has been many intrusive stereotypes about many cultures, mainly because they were immigrants and so new to Americans. Theses stereotypes didn’t seem to validate them, but instead it invalidated them, in multiple ways. Many people still perceive different cultures with unfairness. The Chinese one of many cultures, were immigrating to America because of the gold rush. Most moved to American to boosted to financial status. There were many job opportunities for the Chinese so many more immigrants came into America, Eventually taking more and more jobs. Because they were coming to America for jobs and ultimately money, they were put into the stereotype of being greedy or selfish. Americans now felt that there weren’t enough jobs for the locals. The Chinese exclusion act was an act in order to band immigration from America. Because so many Chinese immigrants...
Words: 550 - Pages: 3
...beliefs against various groups of people. Many statues in our country’s history were built upon a pedestal of prejudice, but one of the most significant of these was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This law made it nearly impossible for Chinese immigrants to become United States citizens. However, historical evidence shows that female Chinese immigrants faced more difficulties in the United States than did their male counterparts. Although all Chinese immigrants faced hardships in migrating to America, females were more harshly impacted by anti-immigration laws than males were due to a potent combination of racism and sexism. One of the first things that may come to mind when we think about Chinese immigration to the United States is the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and it is not hard to see why. As the name implies, politicians created...
Words: 1277 - Pages: 6
...Together as One Often described as a “melting pot”, the United States of America has a rich history of welcoming immigrants, with their many traditions and customs, with open arms. Before the founding fathers signed their declaration, the “New World” of America was already viewed as a safe haven and land of freedom for those escaping religious and social persecution. As our nation developed, the stream of immigrants increased, fueling industrialization through the mid to late 1800s. On the heels of the Industrial Revolution, immigration numbers spiked, leading to Emergency Quota Acts in the 1920s. Such restrictions continued through the rest of the century, changing the ethnic makeup of the United States. In recent years, heated discussions concerning immigration have emerged on the national political platform. As the nation’s leaders reevaluate the role of immigrants in the United States, from a legal perspective it is important to remember the influence such people have had on the nation’s social, cultural, and economical history. Since the founding of the United States, numerous legislative acts that have been passed by the government, in order to regulate the immigrants entering to America. In 1798, four such laws were passed by the United States Congress. Referred to as the Alien and Sedition Acts, these laws were created due to the fear of war with France, and they were intended to strengthen the Federal Government. Sponsored by the Federalist Party, the Acts...
Words: 3817 - Pages: 16
...experiences of primarily male Filipino immigrants to the U.S in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The author did a good job showing what the Filipino went through. Like many immigrants before them, Filipino immigrants came seeking work and a better livelihood, The American Dream. Filipinos faced backbreaking work, low wages, and at time, extreme racism. On the other hand, in many ways the Filipino immigrant experiences were extremely different from that of other ethnic groups, the Chinese and Japanese immigrants. To start with, the author highlights a primary difference as the fact that Filipinos “were not foreigners” because they were from a territory acquired by America; hence, they were “American nationals” (but not citizens)(Takai, 314). Immigration is defined as the process of relocating permanently to a foreign country. So this didn’t apply to the Filipino at that time because they were just moving to a different state in the U.S.; and they wanted to just make enough money so they could return home to their family. Whereas,...
Words: 497 - Pages: 2
...issue in America, even today. Whether it is the color of your skin, what religion you practice, or whether you were born a male or female, many people are discriminated. I have been discriminated a lot. Whether they say something about my race or say I cannot do something because I am a girl, it happens very often. I remember being discriminated for my sex. The simple fact that I was born a female, and not a male. I have had someone tell me I was not going to work when I was older, and I was just going to marry someone rich that would take care of me. "Because I am pretty so I do not have to do anything." When I told him I wanted to get a job and provide for myself because I do not need someone to take care...
Words: 935 - Pages: 4
...Development Student`s Name Institutional Affiliation Submission Date Gold rush in America west [pic] Retrieved from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1363522/How-American-West-really-won-C19th-images-early-settlers-Deadwood.html Above is a photograph of miners washing gold. The photo was taken in the nineteenth century at Deadwood town. The discovery of gold in American west spread like a bush fire, and within no time, a huge number of people had already camped in the mining fields ready to mine the gold and get rich. Many people left their families, jobs and moved to the goldfields’ (Limerick, 1998). During that time American west state experienced a large number of immigrants, all coming to try their luck in the fields. Those who managed to get gold became richer while those who didn’t become poorer. The gold rush brought about huge environmental changes in the country’s landscape (Limerick, 1998). There were very deep holes that were dug in search of the gold. Trees were cut down to clear the fields and to take care of the huge demand for wood that was used to power the steam engines that ran the lifting cables. The rapid destruction of the forest triggered soil erosion in the fields. The miners were less concerned with the consequences of their acts to the environment, for them, America was a place to exploit gets your wealth and leave. There was a rapid population growth in American west; this was as a result...
Words: 2699 - Pages: 11
...Hao zhan james Esl D.E Elizabeth Raptis 05/16/2015 The identity of immigrants People all over the world have different identities and citizenship. However, identities not right equal to citizenship. America is a deserve country, which have immigrants from all over the world. Some of immigrants consider themselves as American and others still identity themselves as before. The article “ note of a native speaker” and “ American dreamer” described two immigrants who have moved to America. From “ Notes of a native speaker”, Eric liu was born in America, he was the second generation as an “ ABC”, which means American born Chinese. His parents wanted him to be an American. He tried to be like that, but he found that the only way to be an American was to be white. From “ American dreamer”, Bharati Mukherjee, a woman born in India,she thought her identity was fixed when she was born, she immigrated to America for a better life and tried to disobey her family in India, she wanted to change her own identity and came to U.s because the society was more diversity. The identity of belonging based on and influence by culture , family and language. Eric Liu’s was the second generation of immigrates, so his parents were Chinese before they became to U.S citizens. However, his family did not teach him to be as a Chinese, he was totally to be taught as an American. He considered that he has became an American before he was born. “ My own assimilation began...
Words: 1411 - Pages: 6
...Introduction The Chinese Exclusion Act was a law of United States that passed by president President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882. It was established based on the revision of Burlinggame Treaty of 1868 made in 1880 .The Chinese Exclusion Act is the first immigration law of United States for a specific ethnic group. It marks a major turning point of the American foreign policy over immigration. This act prohibited Chinese workers into United States and deprives the American citizenship from Chinese immigrants for ten years .The amendment of 1884 further enhanced the requirements that allow earlier arrival immigrants to leave and return the U.S. Then, the Chinese Exclusion Act was extended by Scott Act that mainly written by William Lawrence Scott of Pennsylvania, prohibiting Chinese from returning again after leaving the United States. In 1892, the Geary Act that written by Thomas J.Geary was passed, which extended the Chinese Exclusion Act for a decade. In 1902, the exclusion act was made permanent. It required Chinese resident to register and obtain a proof of residence. The Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed by the Magnuson Act on December 17, 1943. The Magnuson Act set the immigration quota to 105 every year for Chinese immigrants.( “ Exclusion“,Library of Congress.) Background American had a series of changes in the attitude upon Chinese. The Chinese Exclusion Act is one of the most severe restrictions of immigration in American History...
Words: 837 - Pages: 4
...impoverished Europeans began coming to North America to encounter opportunities and to make a new life for themselves and families. At the same time, Chinese people were crossing the Pacific to come to the United States and improve their quality of life as well. The major incline in Chinese immigration came when the gold rush kicked off in 1848. By 1880 more than 200,000 Chinese had settled in the United States. They were first met with hospitality from white Americans, but soon after the opinions turned into animosity. The Chinese had come to a country and garnered great success so many whites saw them as great rivals. Even though the Chines faced fierce discrimination during the second half of the nineteenth century, they remained in America and managed to support themselves....
Words: 621 - Pages: 3
...Chinese Exclusion Act The exclusion act was law made to limit the Chinese movements in America. It started out with limitations with how many Chinese were allowed to enter the U.S., but in 1984 additional rules were added limiting anyone that was Chinese descended to leave or enter the United States, no matter where they were born. In 1992 the law was renewed for another ten years adding rules that Chinese couldn’t testify in court. They had to have passports otherwise if they were caught without one they would face being deported.1 After the California Gold Rush started two years later, China’s condition seemed to worsen. The people of China had faced poverty caused by wars such as the Opium War and the T'aip'ing Rebellion. This made the men of China flee to the safety of American soil in hopes of starting a brighter future for their family and their native lands, even though of the rough conditions the Chinese workers they still managed to make small businesses for themselves making them more alienated from the whites “Perfect life style”. 1 This still didn’t stop the Chinese though. They continued working hard and started lives for themselves and businesses. Chinese men spread everywhere working at railroads and coalmines. Both jobs paid very little, but Chinese still took the jobs. Railroad managers seemed pleased by this fact and paid the same wages to the whites making them angrier and soon they started to protest. Soon there were more Chinese workers then there...
Words: 1037 - Pages: 5
...Ancestors in the Americas As compare to ancient times, I feel lucky today for being Asian. As we know, Asian American populations make up one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States, contributing to an increasing racial and ethnic plurality in communities across the nation. History has been told us that Asian Americans suffered too much inequality in the past and the landmark of them. Although racial discrimination still exists somehow in America, as a new immigrant, I feel such situation has been improved a lot. Language barriers, cultural disparity and other issues still become the problems for the connection between Asian Americans and the Americans, but most of us are trying to break out the barrier. By looking back to the history of Asian American, the documentary “Ancestors in the Americas: Chinese in the Frontier West” which directed by Loni Ding, reveals the arrival and harsh experiences of the large-scale Chinese immigrants on the West Coast of the United States during the 1850’s Gold Rush in California. Also, it portrays their role in developing the American West, and their battles to overcome racial discrimination. In order to have a better life for the family, the Chinese men determined to leave their families and sailed to the Gam Sann (Gold Mountain) with the “American dream”. Far from home, they always send money home without any hesitation. They separate for decades, sometimes forever. However, it is so hard to maintain life in America. They didn’t...
Words: 800 - Pages: 4
