...It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of the semester already, this semester is really flown by. I guess they had to reflect on what I’ve learned throughout the semester, one of the things I learned was how Americans treated Chinese immigrants in the early days of our country. Some of them are treated no better than slaves yet they help build one of the lifelines of American progress the US railway. When the biggest lessons I’ve learned this semester is that we should always treat people the way we would want to be treated and it’s sad that people come to our country a short hundred 50 years ago seeking a better life for them and their family and all they found was prejudice hatred and scorn, I believe our countries come a long way since then that we have a long way to go when it comes to racial issues but I think if we all take time and look at our past we can see a brighter future....
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...Why did Chinese immigrate to the United States? After civil war had settled down, many immigrants came to America to live from many countries such as Germany, Ireland, and England. There are as many as 12 million immigrants at this time. Regarding Chinese immigration, they immigrated to the United States from 1849 to 1882. Between this period, America had California Gold Rush, which is one of the reasons Chinese people immigrated. Because the Chinese Exclusion Act was taken into practice, no more Chinese people could immigrate to the United States after 1882. Chinese immigration is the divergent point for Chinese’ lives who lived in America. The main reason Chinese immigrants came to America after Civil War was for work. As a consequence, most of the Chinese immigrants were single men. Especially in California, Chinese people arrived. There is the promise of gold in California during 1850s. It was called California gold rush. After they gained money in America, they usually went back to their country. Chinese immigrants began doing their own business such as running restaurant and laundries. In addition, they started their agricultural laborers. Even though the hard work such as transcontinental railroad construction that connects the coast to coast did not give them good pay, they just work for money. There were two large rail road companies in the United States at this time: Central Pacific and Union Pacific. They began competing as soon as congress took the Pacific Railroad...
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...The purpose of this memorandum is to give a detail description of the stance of immigration in the United States, the description of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, and my policy strategy that will aid Latinos Mississippi immigrants who are struggling in the work force. Throughout the development of the United States, immigration has been a difficult and arduous topic to cover. The United States of America has been always viewed as the “American Dream” for immigrants to get more opportunities for a better life style with jobs, education, and respect they may not have in their homeland. Thus, many foreigners travels and settle in America to see what they can benefit from the new area. With many new immigrants, with variety of character and culture, they can be a great edition in improving the United States overall. There is a surplus of immigrants that are working hard to achieve a luxurious life they seek and with that motivation; it has significant impact on America’s economy. It starts back in the...
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...children (second generation). In history, during the nineteenth century, Chinese travel to America for financial solutions, with hopes to return to their home with money. As time moves ahead, Chinese immigrants to America searching for a better life, for instance, my parents immigrated to America, who then conceived us as the second generation. With pressure from the parents, children of the second generation were forced to perfect both the American and Chinese culture to their very best. The second generation Chinese Americans were American born, but were still outcasts of the American society because of their skin color. The lives of the children of immigrants who immigrated to America have had stressful impacts from their parents and society because of their parent’s expectations of a perfect child who succeeds in school, and the society’s rejection of their ethnicity. From the old days until now, millions of people around the world have decided to immigrate to the United States in search of a better life. The reason why Chinese people immigrated to America due to the rumors of opportunity to gain higher wages jobs within America which would help support their families who were struggling to survive in China. According to Hubert Howe Bancroft, in 1848, the Chinese immigrants came to California for the opportunity to obtain gold from the Gold Rush (32). The Chinese immigrants had not planned to stay in America, but were there only to obtain enough gold to buy land in China for their...
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...New In America Paper Stephanie Turner-Smith SOC/262 September 21, 2014 Sharon Chappelle New In America Paper America is a nation of immigrants. From the early colonists to the current entrants, indigenous and cultural diversity is plentiful. When this nation was still undeveloped, the settling population was of the same background; they were white, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant background. Over time, Northern Europeans wanted entry, and eventually, Eastern and Southern Europeans, Asians, South and Central Americans came to America by the thousands. The American medley, what we call the melting pot was gradually emerging, but during progression, differences became noticeable. Such differences involved varied religions, races, and ethnic heritage. Two groups that I have researched are Chinese and Armenian immigrants. Chinese immigrants came to America in the mid-19th century. Chinese came to settle in California to join the Gold Rush that originated at Sutter’s Mill in Sacramento, California. But once the gold lessened, they came to seek work. The Chinese immigrants were mostly farmers who left china due to the economy and governmental dilemmas in China. Most anticipated on working hard, earn a large portion of money, so they could return back to country with their families as well-off men. During this time, the Chinese was no different than any other immigrant who came to America. They lived in neighborhoods and communities yet the Chinese maintained their culture. But...
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...The Chinese Exclusion Act There has been many intrusive stereotypes about many cultures, mainly because they were immigrants and so new to Americans. Theses stereotypes didn’t seem to validate them, but instead it invalidated them, in multiple ways. Many people still perceive different cultures with unfairness. The Chinese one of many cultures, were immigrating to America because of the gold rush. Most moved to American to boosted to financial status. There were many job opportunities for the Chinese so many more immigrants came into America, Eventually taking more and more jobs. Because they were coming to America for jobs and ultimately money, they were put into the stereotype of being greedy or selfish. Americans now felt that there weren’t enough jobs for the locals. The Chinese exclusion act was an act in order to band immigration from America. Because so many Chinese immigrants...
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...Together as One Often described as a “melting pot”, the United States of America has a rich history of welcoming immigrants, with their many traditions and customs, with open arms. Before the founding fathers signed their declaration, the “New World” of America was already viewed as a safe haven and land of freedom for those escaping religious and social persecution. As our nation developed, the stream of immigrants increased, fueling industrialization through the mid to late 1800s. On the heels of the Industrial Revolution, immigration numbers spiked, leading to Emergency Quota Acts in the 1920s. Such restrictions continued through the rest of the century, changing the ethnic makeup of the United States. In recent years, heated discussions concerning immigration have emerged on the national political platform. As the nation’s leaders reevaluate the role of immigrants in the United States, from a legal perspective it is important to remember the influence such people have had on the nation’s social, cultural, and economical history. Since the founding of the United States, numerous legislative acts that have been passed by the government, in order to regulate the immigrants entering to America. In 1798, four such laws were passed by the United States Congress. Referred to as the Alien and Sedition Acts, these laws were created due to the fear of war with France, and they were intended to strengthen the Federal Government. Sponsored by the Federalist Party, the Acts...
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...beliefs against various groups of people. Many statues in our country’s history were built upon a pedestal of prejudice, but one of the most significant of these was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This law made it nearly impossible for Chinese immigrants to become United States citizens. However, historical evidence shows that female Chinese immigrants faced more difficulties in the United States than did their male counterparts. Although all Chinese immigrants faced hardships in migrating to America, females were more harshly impacted by anti-immigration laws than males were due to a potent combination of racism and sexism. One of the first things that may come to mind when we think about Chinese immigration to the United States is the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and it is not hard to see why. As the name implies, politicians created...
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...experiences of primarily male Filipino immigrants to the U.S in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The author did a good job showing what the Filipino went through. Like many immigrants before them, Filipino immigrants came seeking work and a better livelihood, The American Dream. Filipinos faced backbreaking work, low wages, and at time, extreme racism. On the other hand, in many ways the Filipino immigrant experiences were extremely different from that of other ethnic groups, the Chinese and Japanese immigrants. To start with, the author highlights a primary difference as the fact that Filipinos “were not foreigners” because they were from a territory acquired by America; hence, they were “American nationals” (but not citizens)(Takai, 314). Immigration is defined as the process of relocating permanently to a foreign country. So this didn’t apply to the Filipino at that time because they were just moving to a different state in the U.S.; and they wanted to just make enough money so they could return home to their family. Whereas,...
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...issue in America, even today. Whether it is the color of your skin, what religion you practice, or whether you were born a male or female, many people are discriminated. I have been discriminated a lot. Whether they say something about my race or say I cannot do something because I am a girl, it happens very often. I remember being discriminated for my sex. The simple fact that I was born a female, and not a male. I have had someone tell me I was not going to work when I was older, and I was just going to marry someone rich that would take care of me. "Because I am pretty so I do not have to do anything." When I told him I wanted to get a job and provide for myself because I do not need someone to take care...
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...During the colonial and Civil War time period, America was not truly free. Many people suffered from unequal pay, no representation and being treated like animals. Three of these groups are the slaves, Chinese Immigrants and women. All three of these groups were treated unfairly and were not truly free. Slaves were treated as animals, Chinese immigrants were harassed and women had unequal rights and no representation. If America had truly been free and believed that all men are created equal, then all minorities would have the same rights as wealthy, white, landowning Americans. Slaves were never free during the time period. Slaves were owned by white plantation owners and worked long hours with little to no compensation. Whippings occurred during long work hours when slaves would start to lag. To get the slaves, they were auctioned off like animals. One former slave said, “…we were slaves. We belonged to people. They’d sell us like they sell horses and cows and hogs and all like that”. No one can be free when they have no control over their lives. To top it...
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...been considered a prime destination for many immigrant groups coming into the United States. Though, despite its popularity, the city has long shown disdain and disregard for those coming into its borders. This argument is made apparent through the stories of both the Polish and the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans who have come into the city. In the case of the Polish, author and historian, Dominic Pacyga writes on their story and ordeal in his work, Polish Immigrants and Industrial Chicago. His work specifically focuses on Polish in the South Side of Chicago between the years of 1880 and 1922. Pacyga paints a dismal picture for the Chicago Polish communities at the time. Often, many found low paying work in either the...
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...Exploration: Chinese laborers explored building rail roads. The majority of people who built the railroads, were Chinese (9/10 were Chinese and 1/10 were Irish). They were super-fast at learning how to do their duties and did them quickly and safely. At first, Superintendent James Harvey Strobrigde of the Central Pacific didn’t like Chinese laborers, but after white laborers didn’t keep their jobs, their investor suggested that they hire Chinese laborers. After about a month of watching the Chinese laborers work on the railroads, he thought they were excellent at what they were doing and started hiring them. When the railroad was done, he invited most of the Chinese laborers to his boarding car to dine with him. When they entered, all of the guests and officers cheered for them. Life on the Railroads:...
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...The "new" immigrants were immigrants from the South and East of Europe. They came Irish and Germans in the immigration during the 1870s. The immigration increased until WW1. Steerage was a form of transportation in which immigrants traveled. It was the worst accommodation on the ships that they traveled on. It was crowded and dirty with no private cabins. Steerages were on the lower decks. Due to the awful conditions of steerage, an illness spread quickly and, passengers died on the trip. Ellis Island was a place in New York Harbor where immigrants were processed from 1892. Third-class passengers usually went to Ellis Island so immigration inspectors can conduct legal and medical inspections. First and second-class passengers were inspected on the ship and left to go to New York unless they had significant medical problems....
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...Introduction The Chinese Exclusion Act was a law of United States that passed by president President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882. It was established based on the revision of Burlinggame Treaty of 1868 made in 1880 .The Chinese Exclusion Act is the first immigration law of United States for a specific ethnic group. It marks a major turning point of the American foreign policy over immigration. This act prohibited Chinese workers into United States and deprives the American citizenship from Chinese immigrants for ten years .The amendment of 1884 further enhanced the requirements that allow earlier arrival immigrants to leave and return the U.S. Then, the Chinese Exclusion Act was extended by Scott Act that mainly written by William Lawrence Scott of Pennsylvania, prohibiting Chinese from returning again after leaving the United States. In 1892, the Geary Act that written by Thomas J.Geary was passed, which extended the Chinese Exclusion Act for a decade. In 1902, the exclusion act was made permanent. It required Chinese resident to register and obtain a proof of residence. The Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed by the Magnuson Act on December 17, 1943. The Magnuson Act set the immigration quota to 105 every year for Chinese immigrants.( “ Exclusion“,Library of Congress.) Background American had a series of changes in the attitude upon Chinese. The Chinese Exclusion Act is one of the most severe restrictions of immigration in American History...
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