In 2010, the Chinese American population numbered 3.8 million (Batalova, Hooper). The assimilation of the Chinese started in the 18th century when, mostly, males left their villages to become laborers in the American West, where they faced discrimination (“Chinese Immigration”). Today, Chinese American teenagers are finding it challenging to find their true identity in America because of outside temptations. The main character in “Fish Cheeks” can relate on how hard it is to find one’s identity in a different culture.
Chinese immigrants came to America in hopes for a new life. They brought with them their language, culture, social institutions, and customs (“Chinese Immigration to the United States”). They came to America why almost everyone else did, for a shot at “Gold Mountain”. When that turned out to be a bust, they turned to very laborious jobs, like constructing the railroads, mining, and agriculture. Up to 90 percent of the labor force was Chinese (Patel, Samir S.). This new life also had discrimination that led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This new law limited the amount of immigrants that could come to America (“Chinese Immigration to the
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The main character in “Fish Cheeks” is embarrassed to practice her Chinese culture in front of her crush, Robert. We can tell this because Amy states, “When I found out that my parents had invited the minister’s family over for Christmas Eve dinner, I cried” (Tan 125). Even her mother could tell that Amy felt awkward and embarrassed, so she tells her, “You must be proud you are different. Your only shame is to have shame” (Tan 127). This is when Amy’s mother realizes that times are changing and that Amy will not be as involved in the Chinese culture, but she is okay with it. This experience helped Amy feel comfortable about finding out her
In order to protect the white working class, racial laws were created and directly targeted towards Chinese immigrants to protect their whiteness. Chapter seven explains the new threat of the arrival of Japanese immigrants in California. During the beginning of the anti-Chinese sentiment and white working-class racism, Japanese immigrants were also under the romanticized belief of
Chinese immigrants were finally qualified for citizenship, and new limits were set for immigration. Even more changes came 2 years later when new laws were passed that allowed Chinese Americans to bring their wives into America. Family life was finally possible for the Chinese community in the United
The Chinese who sailed to Western America found themselves as an object of ridicule and hatred by the White Americans. They were not able to speak English, which made life in America very hard for them. The Chinese were taken advantage of because
The quota issued immigration visas to only two percent of the people from particular countries that were already residing in the U.S. It was not until the Immigration Act of 1965 that put an end to the national-origins quota and provided yearly admittance for immigrants from Asia such as the Eastern and Western Hemisphere (Jones, 625). This was the significant moment in Asian American history because it changed the United Stated once more into a “golden door” which lead the way for the second wave of Asian immigration. The second-wave were different from earlier immigrants due to a significant number of white-collars and people from cities. For earlier immigrants, they consistently compose of farmers and rural people.
On May 6, 1882, President Chester A. Arthur signed a federal law prohibiting Chinese laborers to immigrate. This U.S. federal law was called The Chinese Exclusion Act. During the California Gold Rush, many Chinese immigrated to North America. As gold became harder to find, hostility built up towards Chinese immigrates. A combination of racism and misunderstanding of another culture cause fear that turned into hate.
Why was Chinese immigration restricted in 1882? In the years leading up to 1882, a great number of Chinese people immigrated to the U.S. and began working in jobs like building railroads and factory work. They were very attractive to employers because they were willing to work longer hours, for less pay than most Americans were. But in 1882, a law was passed to limit Chinese immigration.
The short-term impact within 10 years after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was passed which led to the Geary Act being passed in 1892. “The law requires all Chinese residents of the United States to carry a resident permit, a sort of internal passport. Failure to carry the permit at all times was punishable by deportation or a year of hard labor.”(DBPedia) And in return within 10 years, the economy had visibly changed after the act was passed because it had affected the Chinese laborers that contributed to the expansion of the railroad industry and led to more discrimination against the Chinese population after the act had passed excluding Chinese people from America even after 10 years. “Republican President Rutherford B. Hayes vetoed the
This limited the amount of immigrants allowed to enter the US per
they felt like not only America but these newcomers were taking their land and changing their way of life. Around the 1850's a huge number of Asians came to America. Chinese laborers came over because so they could work on the Central pacific railroad. By 1868, over 12,000 Chinese immigrants were employed, they made up about 80% of the laborers. Another reason for coming to the U.S. for them, was because of the California gold rush.
Chinese immigrants came to the U.S for the california gold rush, this event provided many jobs, hope for a good future, and hope to give a good life to their families. Nativists
Similarly, David Hwang’s 10-minute play “Trying to Find Chinatown” centers on an encounter between Ronnie, a Chinese-American street musician, and Benjamin, a Caucasian tourist from Wisconsin who identifies himself as Asian-American, in the busy street of New York. In the play, “each character defines who he believes he is: Benjamin is convinced he is a Chinese American, and Ronnie sees
Many miners passed through this community on their way to work the Gold Mines. The miners faced a reality filled with discrimination as the white miners resented their presence. When finding gold did not pan out, many Chinese immigrants moved on to building railroads, but because they were willing to work much cheaper than others they were often treated harshly for taking the jobs of whites who were trying to support their families but were not willing to work for the same pay. Economic difficulties were not the only reason that ethnic Chinese were looked down upon, the creation of ethnic enclaves including the largely populated China Town in San Francisco, created an image of the Chinese that conflicted with the American culture of the time. In these communities they kept much of their culture from China, they didn’t need to speak English and were isolated from other communities.
During the 1800s, many Chinese immigrants entered America to seek substantial economic wealth and a prosperous life. The first surge of Chinese immigration occurred in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill, California when gold was discovered. Since then, many Chinese immigrants entered the American workforce, and the Americans despised the fact that these incoming immigrants were taking “their jobs”. In the year 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress to limit the amount of Chinese Immigrants entering the country. There are many factors that contributed to the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act; however the most influential factors included the prevention of economic competition, Chinese persecution, and discrimination.
From about 1870 - 1900, about 12,000 immigrants fled to the United States. They fled for a range of reasons. Some of these include social, economical, political, and social. The Chinese arrived around the time of the California Gold Rush. They arrived along the shores.
Chinese immigrants, manly single men, came to California with the hope of finding gold. When the amount of gold tapered off some Chinese immigrants obtained enough money to travel back to China, while some stayed in America. Those who stayed in America faced persecution from native Americans as well as European immigrants. The Chinese had to take any job their could get, such as a cook, in order to make money. Nativists resented the Chinese for this because they were taking the true American’s jobs.