John Cowan
Instructor: Dr. Jerry Garcia
ES100-1 – Midterm Exam
March 4, 2016
Evaluating Experience Throughout the course of American history, particular ethnic groups have experienced and conquered a high level of adversity to solidify their presence in today’s society. These experiences have varied based on a multitude of factors. Perhaps the ethnic group with the most history relative to American adversity is Mexican Americans. Ever since the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 Mexican culture has been transformed by American society, and American society has been transformed by Mexican culture. Unlike many other ethnic groups, the adjacent land mass of the United States and Mexico sparked a conflict between the two groups known as the Mexican-American …show more content…
Unlike Mexicans in the 1800s, Chinese immigrants did not forcibly enter society due to neighboring homelands and issues directly caused by the United States (such as the Mexican-American War). Many decided to migrate to America under their own power seeking better opportunity, as conditions in their native country pushed them away. Factors that ranged from the British Opium Wars to violent rebellion against government to harsh weather conditions resulted in the Chinese departure to western America. From one perspective, a large population of farmers grew weary of tax rates and intense flooding. “The Qing government imposed high taxes on peasant farmers; unable to pay these taxes, many of them lost their lands… The rains have been falling for forty days” (Takaki 178). These circumstances gave peasant farmers no choice but to make a living elsewhere. The sudden decrease in farmers throughout eastern China correlated to a high rate of starvation at this time, resulting in an even higher increase of Chinese immigration into the western United States. Stories of the gold mines in San Francisco and an increase in pay for factory work also motivated the migration of thousands. In simpler terms, opportunity for wealth and a need for survival was the main drive for Chinese immigration in the …show more content…
The way in which Chinese resisted this discrimination is what differs. As more and more Chinese laborers became successful in America, the immigration rate began to grow exponentially. Non-Chinese workers demanded higher pay for the same work. Employers were more likely to hire with financial benefit in mind, so white Americans felt jobs were being taken by immigrants. Many Chinese laborers were also sending money earned in the United States back to China to support their families. White Americans felt this was destroying the economy. The social tension created from the immigration caused government to become discriminatory toward the Chinese. “To address these rising social tensions, from the 1850s through the 1870s the California state government passed a series of measures aimed at Chinese residents, ranging from requiring special licenses for Chinese businesses or workers to preventing naturalization” (USDOS). This series of legislation changes led to the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, which suspended any further immigration by Chinese and required all current Chinese residing in the United States to carry a document displaying their economic status in the country (Lecture, 2/25). Instead of demonstrating strike and protest to resist this discrimination law, Chinese used litigation to regain their right to enter America. “Chinese found that
Instructor: Dr. Jerry Garcia
ES100-1 – Midterm Exam
March 4, 2016
Evaluating Experience Throughout the course of American history, particular ethnic groups have experienced and conquered a high level of adversity to solidify their presence in today’s society. These experiences have varied based on a multitude of factors. Perhaps the ethnic group with the most history relative to American adversity is Mexican Americans. Ever since the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 Mexican culture has been transformed by American society, and American society has been transformed by Mexican culture. Unlike many other ethnic groups, the adjacent land mass of the United States and Mexico sparked a conflict between the two groups known as the Mexican-American …show more content…
Unlike Mexicans in the 1800s, Chinese immigrants did not forcibly enter society due to neighboring homelands and issues directly caused by the United States (such as the Mexican-American War). Many decided to migrate to America under their own power seeking better opportunity, as conditions in their native country pushed them away. Factors that ranged from the British Opium Wars to violent rebellion against government to harsh weather conditions resulted in the Chinese departure to western America. From one perspective, a large population of farmers grew weary of tax rates and intense flooding. “The Qing government imposed high taxes on peasant farmers; unable to pay these taxes, many of them lost their lands… The rains have been falling for forty days” (Takaki 178). These circumstances gave peasant farmers no choice but to make a living elsewhere. The sudden decrease in farmers throughout eastern China correlated to a high rate of starvation at this time, resulting in an even higher increase of Chinese immigration into the western United States. Stories of the gold mines in San Francisco and an increase in pay for factory work also motivated the migration of thousands. In simpler terms, opportunity for wealth and a need for survival was the main drive for Chinese immigration in the …show more content…
The way in which Chinese resisted this discrimination is what differs. As more and more Chinese laborers became successful in America, the immigration rate began to grow exponentially. Non-Chinese workers demanded higher pay for the same work. Employers were more likely to hire with financial benefit in mind, so white Americans felt jobs were being taken by immigrants. Many Chinese laborers were also sending money earned in the United States back to China to support their families. White Americans felt this was destroying the economy. The social tension created from the immigration caused government to become discriminatory toward the Chinese. “To address these rising social tensions, from the 1850s through the 1870s the California state government passed a series of measures aimed at Chinese residents, ranging from requiring special licenses for Chinese businesses or workers to preventing naturalization” (USDOS). This series of legislation changes led to the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, which suspended any further immigration by Chinese and required all current Chinese residing in the United States to carry a document displaying their economic status in the country (Lecture, 2/25). Instead of demonstrating strike and protest to resist this discrimination law, Chinese used litigation to regain their right to enter America. “Chinese found that