Chinese Immigration to the US (1860s-1900)

Chinese Immigration to the US in the 1850s-1900

PART 1: Push & Pull Factors

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What was one push factor leading to Chinese immigration to the United States?

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What was a major "pull factor" attracting Chinese immigrants to the US from 1850-1890?

PART 2: TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD PHOTO ANALYSIS

The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad connected the East with the West of North America, and it allowed the US economy to expand dramatically.  But building the railroad was hard, dangerous work, and required skillful planning, engineering, and dedicated workers.

The workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad included Chinese immigrants, Irish immigrants, African Americans, and White Americans.

Here's a a famous picture of the place where the transcontinental railroad was completed (the two parts of the railroad tracks finally came together), and it marked the beginning of a new US economic boom.

Look closely at the faces in the photo and answer the question below.

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Why do you think the owners of the railroad companies did not include any Black or Chinese immigrant workers in the photo?

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Is it a problem that historic pictures like these (and often textbooks) omit (exclude) people of color? Why or why not?

PART 3: Two Videos about Chinese Immigrant Contributions

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Describe the contributions of Chinese immigrants on the construction of the transcontinental railroad.

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Describe some injustices described in these videos about Chinese immigrant railroad workers.

PART 4: ARTICLE ABOUT CHINESE IMMIGRANTS' EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES

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What are two ways Chinese immigrant miners were mistreated in the 1850s?

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Why did Charles Crocker, owner of the Central Pacific Railroad, decide to hire Chinese immigrants?

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Chinese workers were rewarded for their work the same as white workers.

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List 2-3 specific ways Chinese immigrant workers were targeted for discrimination and mistreatment. BE SPECIFIC.

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What did the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act do?

PART 5: Popular Culture's Portrayal of Chinese Immigrants in the late 1800s

In the late 1800s, popular magazines and newspapers printed racist political cartoons that expressed white Americans' growing (but unfounded) fear and hatred of Chinese immigrants.

Instructions: View and analyze the following political cartoons.

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What does this cartoon (drawn by a white American artist) suggest about Chinese immigrants?

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How does the artist portray white American women?

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By showing these swords in their hands, what does the white cartoon artist suggest Chinese workers will do to European immigrants like this Irish immigrant boot-maker?

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Why do you think the artist printed the words "cheap labor" on the swords?

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By showing diseases coming from Chinatown, what does this white American artist seem to want people to think?

PART 6: FIGHTING BACK AGAINST INJUSTICE--USING THE 14TH AMENDMENT IN THE COURTS

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Why did John Wise, the Collector of Customs, not allow Wong Kim Ark to re-enter the United States?

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What was one push factor leading to Chinese immigration to the United States?

What was a major "pull factor" attracting Chinese immigrants to the US from 1850-1890?

Why do you think the owners of the railroad companies did not include any Black or Chinese immigrant workers in the photo?

Is it a problem that historic pictures like these (and often textbooks) omit (exclude) people of color? Why or why not?

Describe the contributions of Chinese immigrants on the construction of the transcontinental railroad.

Describe some injustices described in these videos about Chinese immigrant railroad workers.

What are two ways Chinese immigrant miners were mistreated in the 1850s?

Why did Charles Crocker, owner of the Central Pacific Railroad, decide to hire Chinese immigrants?

Chinese workers were rewarded for their work the same as white workers.

List 2-3 specific ways Chinese immigrant workers were targeted for discrimination and mistreatment. BE SPECIFIC.

What did the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act do?

What does this cartoon (drawn by a white American artist) suggest about Chinese immigrants?

How does the artist portray white American women?

By showing these swords in their hands, what does the white cartoon artist suggest Chinese workers will do to European immigrants like this Irish immigrant boot-maker?

Why do you think the artist printed the words "cheap labor" on the swords?

By showing diseases coming from Chinatown, what does this white American artist seem to want people to think?

Why did John Wise, the Collector of Customs, not allow Wong Kim Ark to re-enter the United States?

Why is Wong Kim Ark's 1898 Supreme Court case important? What rights did it secure and for whom?