The history of Chinatown must be considered harsh. However after decades of struggle, Chinatown rose inspiring a symbol of resilience. They thrived and prospered even after the toughest moments. Although the citizens believed that the immigrants didn’t belong in San Francisco, that was in the distant past. Chinatown now represents the symbol of the immigrants struggles, and their strength during adversity. For the San Francisco community, the April 29, 1906 quake must have had dramatic effects since it was an all- time low. After Chinatown was burned in flames, the surviving population suffered. They were relocated by the military and resided on a tent city on Van Ness Avenue. To make matters even worse, they were told they
…show more content…
The Chinese continued to stay gallant and fight to be equal citizens of San Francisco. Many feared of their power, so the San Franciscans constantly plotted their elimination. During the years of the 1860s and 1870s, Anti- Coolie meeting occurred. The hate groups would constantly blame the Chinese for financial and economic issues. Alfred Buetell said that the Chinese were a curse to all mankind. They called China a “seething cauldron of infamy” and an “incestuous hell.” But the peak of hatred of the Chinese was the year of 1877. This was the year of when joblessness was at an all-time high and the nation was filled with severe depression. Agitated, a mob of San Franciscans called for an immense meeting at the City Hall plotting to stop the Pacific Mail Steamship. Thus, not allowing the Chinese immigrants from reaching the port. After that, they decided to destroy Chinatown. The angry mob of 500 had carefully laid- hplans of general destruction of Chinese business and shops. The anti- Chinese leader set a fire to distract the militia from getting into their way. With little resistance, the mob set out to destroy all of Chinatown. More than 30 businesses were burned down, several Chinese were killed and many were …show more content…
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 contributed to the rise of the Chines Consolidated Benevolent Association. This was a collection of Chinese business men who strategized to work with the city leaders to stop the hatred toward the Chinese. They also used attorneys to force the city to feed the Chinatown residents. Once the earthquake of 1906 hit, the Chinese were told that their future was not in Chinatown. However two men by the name of Look Tin Eli and Wong G. Yow worked with white architects to rebuild Chinatown. Chinese festivals and Chinese New Year became city wide events. The Chinatown leaders fought for a YMCA in the 1910s and for a public library on 1921. Moreover, the Stockton Street Tunnel in 1914 built a stronger bond between Union Square and Chinatown tourism. But all their fortune went to waste. Angel Island, an interrogation center, was an example. It would detain the Chinese immigrants for months. Stronger bonds with the Chinese occurred as a result of World War II. In the later half of the 20th century, the Chinese in San Francisco started to rise as a political force. On 201l Ed Lee, a tenants rights lawyer who fought for Chinatown in the 1970s, made history by becoming San Francisco’s first Asian American
The Chinese continued to stay gallant and fight to be equal citizens of San Francisco. Many feared of their power, so the San Franciscans constantly plotted their elimination. During the years of the 1860s and 1870s, Anti- Coolie meeting occurred. The hate groups would constantly blame the Chinese for financial and economic issues. Alfred Buetell said that the Chinese were a curse to all mankind. They called China a “seething cauldron of infamy” and an “incestuous hell.” But the peak of hatred of the Chinese was the year of 1877. This was the year of when joblessness was at an all-time high and the nation was filled with severe depression. Agitated, a mob of San Franciscans called for an immense meeting at the City Hall plotting to stop the Pacific Mail Steamship. Thus, not allowing the Chinese immigrants from reaching the port. After that, they decided to destroy Chinatown. The angry mob of 500 had carefully laid- hplans of general destruction of Chinese business and shops. The anti- Chinese leader set a fire to distract the militia from getting into their way. With little resistance, the mob set out to destroy all of Chinatown. More than 30 businesses were burned down, several Chinese were killed and many were …show more content…
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 contributed to the rise of the Chines Consolidated Benevolent Association. This was a collection of Chinese business men who strategized to work with the city leaders to stop the hatred toward the Chinese. They also used attorneys to force the city to feed the Chinatown residents. Once the earthquake of 1906 hit, the Chinese were told that their future was not in Chinatown. However two men by the name of Look Tin Eli and Wong G. Yow worked with white architects to rebuild Chinatown. Chinese festivals and Chinese New Year became city wide events. The Chinatown leaders fought for a YMCA in the 1910s and for a public library on 1921. Moreover, the Stockton Street Tunnel in 1914 built a stronger bond between Union Square and Chinatown tourism. But all their fortune went to waste. Angel Island, an interrogation center, was an example. It would detain the Chinese immigrants for months. Stronger bonds with the Chinese occurred as a result of World War II. In the later half of the 20th century, the Chinese in San Francisco started to rise as a political force. On 201l Ed Lee, a tenants rights lawyer who fought for Chinatown in the 1970s, made history by becoming San Francisco’s first Asian American