Chinese Immigrant and Exclusion

Chinese Immigration & Exclusion

Step: 1 What happened between the 1860’s, when Chinese were welcome, & 1882, when they were excluded?
1. They started getting worse treatment every year.
2. Many laws and acts were made against them.
3. The Chinese were feeling depressed and cheated out of their hard work.
Step: 2

Based on this document, why did many white Americans support the Chinese Exclusion Act?
Document A:
Play
White Americans supported the Chinese Exclusion Act because the Chinese would work for less and took their jobs because of that.
Document B:
Nast Cartoon
They passed the movement because the Chinamen were better off than the Irish and Germans because they would do the same work but better and for less.
Document C:
Workingmen speech
They felt the Chinese were ruining the country by taking all the jobs and holding us back from becoming a prosperous country.
Document D:
Lee Chew’s Autobiography
White Americans supported the Chinese Exclusion act because they were jealous of the Chinese. They weren’t nearly as dedicated workers compared to the Chinamen. They would always had to be supervised if they want to work like the Chinamen do all the time whether or not they are supervised.

Step: 3 In the space below, answer the following question: Why did Americans pass the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?
Use evidence from the documents and the timeline.

White Americans supported the Chinese Exclusion Act because they were being outsourced and out numbered by the Chinese. The Chinese would do the same work for less, and they would do it better. The Chinese also are honest, hard-working, steady, sober, and careful workers. They would always do their work whether or not they are being watched. They also supported the Exclusion act because When the Chinese would work they would save their money and send it back to China, which was draining the national wealth.

Research

Bodenner, Chris. “Chinese Exclusion Act.” Issues & Controversies in American History. Infobase Publishing, 20 Oct. 2006. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. .
The Chinese were draining the national wealth by saving their money and taking it back to China and putting it into circulation there instead of the U.S.
The Chinese are more willing to do jobs white Americans wouldn’t do.

“Organized Labor Supports Ban on Chinese Immigration.” Issues & Controversies in American History. Infobase Publishing, Web. 23 Jan. 2013. .
The exclusion act reduced the 75,00 Chinese residents in California in 1880 down to 45,00.
The willingness of the Chinese to work even for low wages brought down the living standards of white workers.
Chinese workers had no desire to stay in America or adopt the American way.

“Chinese Exclusion Act - Timeline.” Issues & Controversies in American History. Infobase Publishing, 20 Oct. 2006. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. .
The gold rush in 1848 brought Chinese immigrants to the American west.
The transcontinental railroad wouldn’t have been completed that quickly if it were not for the contribution of Chinese workers.
90% of the workforce on the transcontinental railroad were Chinese workers
The Naturalization Act of 1870 limits naturalization to Caucasians and people of African decent, putting Asians into a category of aliens ineligible for citizenship.