Economic Effects Of Asian Immigration To America
A country is defined by its citizens. The people who live in a specific area help determine the places attributes. For example, America would not be the place it is today without the constant flow of repopulation and immigration. Through the different waves of immigration, America experienced a lot of change that would transform the country. During the second half of the 1800s, Asian immigration into the United States of America had a positive economic influence on the country while also affecting the social aspects of the country in negative ways. The major waves Asian immigration into the United States of America has been going on for almost two centuries. Many Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino migrants filled into the plantations
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For example, in the second half of the 1800s, China had suffered dearly from the Opium Wars with Britain, in which the Chinese economy revolved around the trading of opium and hard labor that came with oppression. (Shandra Goldfinger 1). This caused a lack of jobs in the business of agriculture, which many Chinese relied on. Many families were now desperate for money and willing to do any work. Their desperation caused workers to travel across the Pacific to do any work they could get their hands on. Around the time of the first Asian immigration wave, the Transcontinental Railroad was also being built. Many Chinese men were hired to do the cheap and physically demanding labor on the railroads due to a shortage of employees at the time. Their work ethic impressed many overseers yet they were still only paid $27 per month compared to the $35 for the Irish ("Immigration, Railroads, and the West"). The larger corporations that oversaw the building of these railroads took a large advantage of these Asian immigrants. Their companies were now in favor because they could give up less money while also raising the rate of production. Entrepreneurs and CEO's now had more money to flow through the United States and a great ability to invest in other ventures causing the economy to become more stable and successful. Without the cheap and efficient labor of the Asians, the impact of the transcontinental railroad would have had a prolonged economic
For example, in the second half of the 1800s, China had suffered dearly from the Opium Wars with Britain, in which the Chinese economy revolved around the trading of opium and hard labor that came with oppression. (Shandra Goldfinger 1). This caused a lack of jobs in the business of agriculture, which many Chinese relied on. Many families were now desperate for money and willing to do any work. Their desperation caused workers to travel across the Pacific to do any work they could get their hands on. Around the time of the first Asian immigration wave, the Transcontinental Railroad was also being built. Many Chinese men were hired to do the cheap and physically demanding labor on the railroads due to a shortage of employees at the time. Their work ethic impressed many overseers yet they were still only paid $27 per month compared to the $35 for the Irish ("Immigration, Railroads, and the West"). The larger corporations that oversaw the building of these railroads took a large advantage of these Asian immigrants. Their companies were now in favor because they could give up less money while also raising the rate of production. Entrepreneurs and CEO's now had more money to flow through the United States and a great ability to invest in other ventures causing the economy to become more stable and successful. Without the cheap and efficient labor of the Asians, the impact of the transcontinental railroad would have had a prolonged economic