The Chinese community had originally come to the United States in hopes of finding
great fortune by way of the 1849 Gold Rush. This would lead to the construction of
railroads, where many Chinese immigrants worked. Compared to the White workers,
the Chinese were willing to work not only for a fraction of the normal wage, but also
perform dangerous tasks, such as blast mining. Because of this, Chinese labor was in
high demand amongst railroad contractors, so many Chinese immigrants had little
difficulty finding a job. By 1869, the majority of the railroad construction was
complete, leaving approximately 20,000 Chinese workers looking for work.
Many of these men would settle into San Francisco, as they look for new areas
in need of labor. They would settle into an area we now identify as Chinatown.
great fortune by way of the 1849 Gold Rush. This would lead to the construction of
railroads, where many Chinese immigrants worked. Compared to the White workers,
the Chinese were willing to work not only for a fraction of the normal wage, but also
perform dangerous tasks, such as blast mining. Because of this, Chinese labor was in
high demand amongst railroad contractors, so many Chinese immigrants had little
difficulty finding a job. By 1869, the majority of the railroad construction was
complete, leaving approximately 20,000 Chinese workers looking for work.
Many of these men would settle into San Francisco, as they look for new areas
in need of labor. They would settle into an area we now identify as Chinatown.
While the demand for Chinese labor was high, there were some repercussions.
Their willingness to work for low wages would anger many White workers, and
with the national unemployment rate on the rise in the Panic of 1873, race riots
would become a frequent sight. The resentment toward Chinese workers would
lead to the passing of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Since then, the Chinese
community would face exclusion in the United States, thanks to the legalized
discrimination that the Exclusion Act brought along. As such, no immigrants of
Chinese descent would be allowed into the United States for over 60 years. For
Their willingness to work for low wages would anger many White workers, and
with the national unemployment rate on the rise in the Panic of 1873, race riots
would become a frequent sight. The resentment toward Chinese workers would
lead to the passing of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Since then, the Chinese
community would face exclusion in the United States, thanks to the legalized
discrimination that the Exclusion Act brought along. As such, no immigrants of
Chinese descent would be allowed into the United States for over 60 years. For
the Chinese workers who were already in the United States, they were barred from
court, marrying non-Chinese people, and obtaining citizenship. Those who were
already in the United States had no other choice but to remain in Chinatown.
court, marrying non-Chinese people, and obtaining citizenship. Those who were
already in the United States had no other choice but to remain in Chinatown.
Like other immigrant communities, the Chinese built their neighborhood to
bear some resemblance to their cultural background. As successful as they were,
all of their efforts would be destroyed once the 1906 earthquake hit San Francisco.
The earthquake had devastated the majority of the city, including Chinatown.
Since the city documents were also destroyed by the earthquake, many Chinese
men used this opportunity to claim themselves as citizens, citing that their
documents were destroyed by the earthquake. Through the claim of citizenship,
the Chinese workers were able to bring their families to America. However,
many of these hopeful immigrants coming into America would find themselves
detained at Angel Island, where they would be interrogated for suspicion
of fraudulence.
bear some resemblance to their cultural background. As successful as they were,
all of their efforts would be destroyed once the 1906 earthquake hit San Francisco.
The earthquake had devastated the majority of the city, including Chinatown.
Since the city documents were also destroyed by the earthquake, many Chinese
men used this opportunity to claim themselves as citizens, citing that their
documents were destroyed by the earthquake. Through the claim of citizenship,
the Chinese workers were able to bring their families to America. However,
many of these hopeful immigrants coming into America would find themselves
detained at Angel Island, where they would be interrogated for suspicion
of fraudulence.
When America entered the Second World War, it was presented with a
paradox: it fought in support of China against the Japanese yet discriminated
against its domestic Chinese population. Because America needed China as an
ally, the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1944. Although they were now
eligible to become citizens, the Chinese community could not bring in their relatives
en masse because of the small immigration quotas in place. This would all change as
America moved into the 1960s.
paradox: it fought in support of China against the Japanese yet discriminated
against its domestic Chinese population. Because America needed China as an
ally, the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1944. Although they were now
eligible to become citizens, the Chinese community could not bring in their relatives
en masse because of the small immigration quotas in place. This would all change as
America moved into the 1960s.
In 1965, Congress passed the Hart-Cellar Act, allowing for immigration to happen
on a large scale for the first time in America. Before the act was passed, immigrants
could only arrive in the hundreds. Now they were arriving in the thousands. With
these new immigrants arriving, they would need to find a place to settle in. Since San
Francisco’s Chinatown was the only established Chinese settlement, many immigrants
would go there. The influx of immigrants would help to bolster Chinatown’s presence.
However, with the Chinese immigrants arriving in large numbers, Chinatown would
soon find itself to be overpopulated.
on a large scale for the first time in America. Before the act was passed, immigrants
could only arrive in the hundreds. Now they were arriving in the thousands. With
these new immigrants arriving, they would need to find a place to settle in. Since San
Francisco’s Chinatown was the only established Chinese settlement, many immigrants
would go there. The influx of immigrants would help to bolster Chinatown’s presence.
However, with the Chinese immigrants arriving in large numbers, Chinatown would
soon find itself to be overpopulated.
While Chinatown was finding itself overpopulated, the once pre-dominantly
white neighborhoods such as the Richmond and Sunset districts would find its white
population dwindling as many of them would relocate to the suburban areas through
what is known as the White Flight. The exact cause is not clear, but what is known is
that many White Americans had benefited from the G.I. Bill, where the government
gave large sums of money to the families of its World War II servicemen. The money
gained was enough to buy a new house, which many White Americans would do. At
the same time, more Chinese-Americans were able to find better jobs(due to racial
discrimination being made illegal), which would lead to higher earnings. As a result,
many Chinese-Americans were able to afford better housing, meaning that they didn’t
have to rely on the cheap housing that Chinatown offered. This would help contribute
to the demographic changes within those neighborhoods, as many of the Chinese
immigrants would move from the overcrowded Chinatown to settle in the gap that
the White population had left behind. This movement of Chinese-Americans from
Chinatown to the Richmond and Sunset districts would help establish the ethnic
settlements we currently see in those neighborhoods today.
white neighborhoods such as the Richmond and Sunset districts would find its white
population dwindling as many of them would relocate to the suburban areas through
what is known as the White Flight. The exact cause is not clear, but what is known is
that many White Americans had benefited from the G.I. Bill, where the government
gave large sums of money to the families of its World War II servicemen. The money
gained was enough to buy a new house, which many White Americans would do. At
the same time, more Chinese-Americans were able to find better jobs(due to racial
discrimination being made illegal), which would lead to higher earnings. As a result,
many Chinese-Americans were able to afford better housing, meaning that they didn’t
have to rely on the cheap housing that Chinatown offered. This would help contribute
to the demographic changes within those neighborhoods, as many of the Chinese
immigrants would move from the overcrowded Chinatown to settle in the gap that
the White population had left behind. This movement of Chinese-Americans from
Chinatown to the Richmond and Sunset districts would help establish the ethnic
settlements we currently see in those neighborhoods today.
Northern California Coalition on Immigrant Rights. "Chinese Immigration." FoundSF. N.p., 20 Sep 1997. Web. 4 May 2011. <http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Chinese_Immigration>.
"San Francisco's Chinatown." Chinatown of San Francisco, California. Magical Journeys, n.d. Web. 4 May 2011. <http://www.magicaljourneys.com/USA/usa-interest-california-sanfrancisco-chinatown.html>.
"The Story of Chinatown." Chinatown Resource Guide. KQED, n.d. Web. 4 May 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinatown/resourceguide/story.html>.
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