In the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848, Chinese immigrants, mostly poor China-men sought a better economic life in the United States. When Chinese American first arrived in California they were welcomed for their exotic customs, interesting clothing and strong accents. Soon, the white working class grew old of the Chinese because of the potential threat they posed for their livelihood and work, which lead to discrimination against the Chinese. Politicians that ran for office in California supported Chinese Exclusion legislation to gain more votes to be elected. This essay argues that the anti-chinese legislation was due in response to three major factors: the high influx of chinese immigrants, racism against the chinese, and politicians
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Dennis Kearny, of the workingman’s Party, in particular disliked competition from Chinese labor workers. They targeted the Chinese for not having families to support and their Chinatown settlements. Beginning in 1873, a depression struck California’s economy which lead to lower wages and unemployment for laborers. White laborers blamed the chinese for taking their jobs and causing a spike for a lost of jobs for the white working class. As the Chinese dominated the shoe and boot industry, the white working class feared Chinese monopolies. They asserted that Chinatown was overcrowded with filth and diseases such as Smallpox and leprosy. They claimed that the customs of these men contaminated the white society with their smoking, gambling and …show more content…
The Wasp magazine depicted cartoons of San Francisco’s Chinatown as the carcass of a large elephant laying over the city. It also showed cartoons of overcrowding and old wooden buildings that you would not see in today’s Chinatown. Many of the political cartoons described chinese with evil racial features such as slanted or squinty eyes, angry faces that look unappealing.
Aside from racist cartoons from the media such as The Wasp, racism arose from other sources. The obvious differences in facial features of the chinese and the way they dressed had made them easy racial targets. Since the US did not categorize the Chinese as whites, this separation resulted in a racist attitude long after the Exclusion Act was passed.
Much Legislation was directed against the Chinese in an effort to restrict and discourage immigration from China. From 1844, we see taxes imposed of $2.50 per month upon all Chinese. As anti-Chinese opinion arose, further restrictions including the decision in the 1854 People v. Hall murder case, where the Chinese were not given the rights to testify against a white man in court, despite going against the Civil Rights Act. Another law passed a year later included the 1855 Mining tax that targeted the Chinese, as well as other minorities such as the Mexicans and South
Dennis Kearny, of the workingman’s Party, in particular disliked competition from Chinese labor workers. They targeted the Chinese for not having families to support and their Chinatown settlements. Beginning in 1873, a depression struck California’s economy which lead to lower wages and unemployment for laborers. White laborers blamed the chinese for taking their jobs and causing a spike for a lost of jobs for the white working class. As the Chinese dominated the shoe and boot industry, the white working class feared Chinese monopolies. They asserted that Chinatown was overcrowded with filth and diseases such as Smallpox and leprosy. They claimed that the customs of these men contaminated the white society with their smoking, gambling and …show more content…
The Wasp magazine depicted cartoons of San Francisco’s Chinatown as the carcass of a large elephant laying over the city. It also showed cartoons of overcrowding and old wooden buildings that you would not see in today’s Chinatown. Many of the political cartoons described chinese with evil racial features such as slanted or squinty eyes, angry faces that look unappealing.
Aside from racist cartoons from the media such as The Wasp, racism arose from other sources. The obvious differences in facial features of the chinese and the way they dressed had made them easy racial targets. Since the US did not categorize the Chinese as whites, this separation resulted in a racist attitude long after the Exclusion Act was passed.
Much Legislation was directed against the Chinese in an effort to restrict and discourage immigration from China. From 1844, we see taxes imposed of $2.50 per month upon all Chinese. As anti-Chinese opinion arose, further restrictions including the decision in the 1854 People v. Hall murder case, where the Chinese were not given the rights to testify against a white man in court, despite going against the Civil Rights Act. Another law passed a year later included the 1855 Mining tax that targeted the Chinese, as well as other minorities such as the Mexicans and South