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2. Early Chinese ImmigrationEarly Chinese Immigration
In the 1800s, Chinese government was
unstable
The Gold Rush in California offered young
Chinese men the opportunity to earn a
fortune by taking a 60-day journey over the
Pacific Ocean and trying their hand at mining
in the gold fields.
By the year 1852 over 20,000 Chinese
immigrants had immigrated to the United
States

3. Competition Leads to ViolenceCompetition Leads to Violence
While in the mining fields, white miners resented Chinese
competition
Chinese miners were forced to operate in less desirable
sites and worked In large numbers for protection
Chinese were called “a danger to the welfare of the state
of California” and a special tax was passed that forced
Chinese to pay ½ of their wages to the state
Many Chinese left the gold mining fields for Chinatown in
San Francisco or returned home to China

4. Transcontinental RailroadTranscontinental Railroad
July 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, this
gave the Central Pacific & the Union Pacific approval to
construct the Railroad
Central Pacific could not find white men to lay the
dangerous tracks so they recruited Chinese laborers
(500-1,000 men lost their lives)
Chinese workers were paid $35 per month but had to
provide their own food
Chinese laid about 1 mile of track per day
In 1869 the Trans-Continental Railroad was completed
but the Chinese were not recognized for their labor

6. Anti-Chinese ViolenceAnti-Chinese Violence
The 1870s was a downturn in American
economy.
Unemployment increased; whites blamed the
Chinese for taking their jobs
Children prohibited from attending public school
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act designed to stop
nearly all immigration from China

7. Angel Island Processing CenterAngel Island Processing Center
Between 1910-1940, all Chinese arriving in America
were processed on Angel Island
Chinese were taken to barracks for processing.
At any given time, the barracks would hold
200-300 men
30-50 women
The process could take weeks and even several
months before officials processed their immigration
papers and interrogated them
The interrogation forced Chinese immigrants to
prove they were merchants, teachers, or joining an
American citizen family member, otherwise they
were sent back (Because these were the only
exclusions to the Exclusion Act)