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CHINESE IMMIGRATIONGOLD RUSH AND THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT

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GOLD!!

On January 24, 1848, gold was discovered in California at Sutter’s Mill.

By 1849, people were coming to California from all over the world to look for gold. These migrants

were known as “forty-niners”

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CHINESE IMMIGRANTS

In 1848, Chinese immigrants began coming to America.

Reasons: War Famine A poor economy in southeastern China

Between 1848-1853, about 24,000 young Chinese men immigrated to California.

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CHINESE IMMIGRANTS

Americans did not welcome the Chinese. California placed a high monthly tax on

all foreign miners Chinese workers were targets of violent

attacks in the mining camps The legal system offered little protection

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CHINESE IMMIGRANTS

Year after year, more immigrants came from China to America. Some still hoped to find gold.

Others just wanted a job: Many opened their own businesses Restaurants Laundries Central Pacific Railroad Company

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CHINATOWN

The largest and oldest Chinese community in the United States is the Chinatown area of San Francisco

San Francisco grew rapidly Population jumped

from 800 in March of 1848 to more than 25,000 by 1850.

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RESENTMENT

Workers of other nationalities who could not find jobs that paid well began to resent the Chinese workers. Blamed Chinese for taking

jobs Blamed Chinese for

keeping the pay rate low Some states began to

pass laws that discriminated against Chinese and Asian immigrants

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EMPLOYMENT

After the gold rush ended, many Chinese immigrants found work elsewhere: Farm laborers Low-paying industrial jobs Railroad construction

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PACIFIC RAILWAY ACTS

As more Americans moved west, the need to send goods and information from the East to the West increased.

The federal government passed the Pacific Railway Acts of 1862 and 1864. Gave railroad companies loans and land

grants Railroads hired many immigrants, many

of them Chinese

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DISCRIMINATION

Chinese workers who worked on the railroad were treated differently: Were paid less Were given the most dangerous jobs Were given the longest working hours

However, they could earn much more money working for the railroads than back in China.

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THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT

In 1882, President Chester A. Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act. It restricted immigration from China into

the United States for the next ten years. Banned Chinese laborers, both skilled

and unskilled Banned miners

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THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT

Other restrictions: Chinese immigrants already in the

United States were not allowed to leave and re-enter the country.

Chinese immigrants already living in the United States were not allowed to become citizens.

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EFFECTS

The law had devastating effects on Chinese communities in America: Chinese men who had come to America

to work could not go home to visit their families

They could not bring their wives to America

Since they were not citizens, they could not own their own land or register mining claims.

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REAUTHORIZATION

The Chinese Exclusion Act had broad support from labor unions and other groups.

Other people criticized the act, calling it legalized discrimination

In 1892, it was reauthorized for another ten years by the passage of the Geary Act.

In 1902, it was again reauthorized – this time with no ending date.

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END OF EXCLUSION

It was only when our country became involved in World War II that the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed. China was an ally of ours in the war The Magnuson Act was passed in 1943

to finally repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act, but there were still limits on immigration

Finally in the 1960’s, the exclusion of Chinese immigration was completely ended

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QUESTIONS!

1. What event sent people from all over the world to California in 1848-1849?

THE GOLD RUSH

2. What was happening in China that caused many people to emigrate from there? WAR, FAMINE, POOR ECONOMY

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3. What did California do to discourage foreigners from mining for gold? TAXED THEM

4. Why did the Chinese stay in America even though conditions were not the best? THEY COULD EARN MORE MONEY THAN

IN CHINA

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5. What was the Chinese Exclusion Act? A LAW THAT RESTRICTED IMMIGRATION

FROM CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES

6. How did World War II affect the immigration of people from China to America? IT LED TO THE REPEAL OF THE CHINESE

EXCLUSION ACT SINCE CHINA WAS AN ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WAR

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EXIT TICKET!

Do you think that a law like the Chinese Exclusion Act could be passed today? Why or why not?

Write your answer on a sheet of paper Must be at least 4 sentences