Chinese Immigration To America In The 19th Century

During the 19th century in the United States, male and females of Asian descent had migrated into the country, which created a huge impact to America. In 1848, the Treaty of Hidalgo was signed by Mexico, which ended the Mexican-American war resulted with Mexico giving up the territory of California to the U.S.. By March 15, the news spread that plenty of gold was found within California and caused many men from different countries to explore the territory to find precious gold such as China. China promoted the idea that America was a haven of plenty and equality and the Chinese dreamt of wealth on “Gold Mountain” in California, they sold their fields, fishing boats, and borrowed money to sail to California. Unlike chinese men who traveled to the Pacific to mine for gold and obtain wealth, Chinese women had also journeyed across to California in the mid-1800s. According to Jean Pfaelzer, in her book “Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans”, she stated that Chinese women were “Kidnapped for
They traveled alone, set up their own businesses, or even hired themselves out as nannied. At tremendous odds, Chinese women turned to American courts to fight for the freedom of their bodies and their labor, and some would seek refuge at evangelical missions, where they risked being released back to slavery (Pfaelzer, 55). The 1885 Alien Contract Law, outlawing the trade in indentured workers and enslaved prostitutes, failed to stop the forced importation of Chinese women held in bondage. Chinese womanhood was viewed in two popular ways - “the diseased prostitute and the "small foot" wide- suggested how the fear of the "yellow" persil was projected onto the body of Chinese womanhood, which must, perforce, be driven out” (Pfaelzer, 60). Chinese women continued to struggle throughout history as they lived in