The American West was largely shaped by immigrants who were committed to working hard labor, in spite of hardships, in order to prosper in the United States. In the book, American Workers, Colonial Power, Filipina/os greatly influence the American West, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Dorothy Fujita-Rony does a great job of displaying Filipina/os history by outlining their previous ties with the Spanish Empire, to their emigration experience throughout the American West, during the early 1900s and well into the pre-second World War. From receiving prestigious education at an American institution, to traveling thousands of miles for work, the Filipina/o community always persevered towards breaking down the ethnic and gender barriers.
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The United States was drawn to the Pacific for more than two centuries, mainly because of the China Trade (29). Towards the later 1800s, Filipina/os had just been relieved of the Spanish Empire and began to deal with the conquest of the United States. During which, the United States had brutally overcome the resistance of the Filipino rebels. This War lasted from 1899 to 1901, which left the countryside of the Philippines devastated, resulting in famine and disease (30). The expansion of the United States’ empire created job opportunities, making it easier for Philippine nationalists to travel overseas in search for a better future. Trans-oceanic routes from the Philippines into the United States made Seattle a boom town for new settlers. Seattle was a prominent choice for the Filipina/o community in the early twentieth century, due to its midpoint in regional search for work, which expanded from Alaska to the southern coast of California. Alaska served Filipinos during the summer months, where they would work long demanding hours in Salman canneries. Thus, the rest of the year, they would follow the farming trends along the coast of California. If Filipina/os were not working, they were furthering their education at local community colleges or at the University of
The United States was drawn to the Pacific for more than two centuries, mainly because of the China Trade (29). Towards the later 1800s, Filipina/os had just been relieved of the Spanish Empire and began to deal with the conquest of the United States. During which, the United States had brutally overcome the resistance of the Filipino rebels. This War lasted from 1899 to 1901, which left the countryside of the Philippines devastated, resulting in famine and disease (30). The expansion of the United States’ empire created job opportunities, making it easier for Philippine nationalists to travel overseas in search for a better future. Trans-oceanic routes from the Philippines into the United States made Seattle a boom town for new settlers. Seattle was a prominent choice for the Filipina/o community in the early twentieth century, due to its midpoint in regional search for work, which expanded from Alaska to the southern coast of California. Alaska served Filipinos during the summer months, where they would work long demanding hours in Salman canneries. Thus, the rest of the year, they would follow the farming trends along the coast of California. If Filipina/os were not working, they were furthering their education at local community colleges or at the University of