Chinese Immigration To Canada Research Paper
Chinese immigration and integration in Canada
Submitted by: Sammi Cheung
Student number: 500342755
POL 129
Section 011
15 March 2013
In order to look at the history of Chinese immigration in Canada and how this reflects on Canada, and its success in welcoming and integrating immigrants, one needs to divide the history into different episodes. The first is the early settlements, mostly in British Columbia, as Chinese came more as sojourners for gold and fortune. The second would be the onset of Canadian legislations ostracizing Chinese Canadians, spawned from fear and racial discrimination. The third and last would be the period when Canada repealed many of its exclusionary legislations and truly welcomed the Chinese …show more content…
(Tan 1985, p.10).
The Chinese were a minority and had no right to vote. Neither would a handful of resentful Chinese merchants truly endanger the Canadian markets. Hence they held little political or economic sway. After the completion of the CP Railway, it was clear that the Canadian government representing the local white populace, wanted to encourage the Chinese to leave or immigrate slower. In 1885, the Chinese Immigration Act was pushed through Parliament and the Head Tax on Chinese immigrants was increased to $50, up from $10 a year earlier on. This was subsequently increased to $100 in 1901 and even $500 in 1904. It was estimated that a total of $24 million Head Tax was paid out by the Chinese around this time (Chang 1984, pp.26-28). The Head Tax had slowed down Chinese immigration but they were still coming into Canada even if they needed to borrow or pool money together. Although this had restricted the early Chinese settlements (a great deal consisting of working men), from bringing its inhabitants’ …show more content…
Some have even emigrated as a group from the same villages and counties (Thompson 1989, p.8). These tight-knit organizations and associations were created as a part of the early communal structure. They were based upon clanship/kinship, dialect, origins, and political leanings amongst other bonds. Hence there were claims that the Chinese Canadians were inassimilable. In addition, there were complaints that prostitution, gambling, and brawling were commonplace in these Chinese settlements, causing social woes to the Canadian society as a whole (Roy 2003,
Submitted by: Sammi Cheung
Student number: 500342755
POL 129
Section 011
15 March 2013
In order to look at the history of Chinese immigration in Canada and how this reflects on Canada, and its success in welcoming and integrating immigrants, one needs to divide the history into different episodes. The first is the early settlements, mostly in British Columbia, as Chinese came more as sojourners for gold and fortune. The second would be the onset of Canadian legislations ostracizing Chinese Canadians, spawned from fear and racial discrimination. The third and last would be the period when Canada repealed many of its exclusionary legislations and truly welcomed the Chinese …show more content…
(Tan 1985, p.10).
The Chinese were a minority and had no right to vote. Neither would a handful of resentful Chinese merchants truly endanger the Canadian markets. Hence they held little political or economic sway. After the completion of the CP Railway, it was clear that the Canadian government representing the local white populace, wanted to encourage the Chinese to leave or immigrate slower. In 1885, the Chinese Immigration Act was pushed through Parliament and the Head Tax on Chinese immigrants was increased to $50, up from $10 a year earlier on. This was subsequently increased to $100 in 1901 and even $500 in 1904. It was estimated that a total of $24 million Head Tax was paid out by the Chinese around this time (Chang 1984, pp.26-28). The Head Tax had slowed down Chinese immigration but they were still coming into Canada even if they needed to borrow or pool money together. Although this had restricted the early Chinese settlements (a great deal consisting of working men), from bringing its inhabitants’ …show more content…
Some have even emigrated as a group from the same villages and counties (Thompson 1989, p.8). These tight-knit organizations and associations were created as a part of the early communal structure. They were based upon clanship/kinship, dialect, origins, and political leanings amongst other bonds. Hence there were claims that the Chinese Canadians were inassimilable. In addition, there were complaints that prostitution, gambling, and brawling were commonplace in these Chinese settlements, causing social woes to the Canadian society as a whole (Roy 2003,