Essay on Chinese Immigration

Words: 1744
Pages: 7

Chinese Immigration

Every person who lives in America is either an immigrant or a descendant of an immigrant. Though we may not consider it, it is a fact that everyone here has come from some other place. The majority of immigrants have come to America voluntarily. Seeking a change they envisioned America as country thriving with different opportunities. For the immigrants it was a chance at a better life, not only for themselves, but for their children. It is estimated that over sixty million people have immigrated to America and it is this immigration that has built America into a "melting pot." America is a country thriving with varies ethnic, cultural, religious, and economic identities. It is this "melting pot" that makes

Angry Whites blamed the Chinese immigrants for lowering wages and raising unemployment among the rest of America. Outraged men and women formed anti-Chinese groups and supported politicians who pledged to deport Chinese workers. For example in 1870 a nominee of the California Workingmen's party ran for office with the campaign slogan "Chinese must go." The anti-Chinese attitudes forced Chinese immigrants into enclaves. In California there was a small section where Chinese immigrants established an enclave in which their culture could be preserved and flourish. This enclave was known as Chinatown in San Francisco. Other immigrants established enclaves in different parts of America, however not any of them were as precise as Chinatown. Almost all of Chinese workers lived in Chinatown, including both the rich and the poor. Even when an immigrant was gaining economic status they still did not move out of this particular enclave. The Chinese did not want to leave the enclave because the hostility that Whites held towards them made it impossible. Ironically it was this separatism that was held against them as the Whites claimed the Chinese were excluding themselves from the rest of society and not properly assimilating into society. During the 1870's anti-Chinese attitudes increased in America. Those who were against