After the first Opium War and natural disasters in China, many Chinese were left destitute. In the 1850s, Chinese laborers migrated to the United States seeking fortune. Many accepted mining, agricultural jobs and factory work, particularly in the garment industry. Encouraged to immigrate by the Burlingame Treaty of 1868, Chinese immigrants were particularly instrumental in building railroads in the American west. As they achieved success, a number of Chinese-Americans became entrepreneurs.
The United States of America and the Emperor of China cordially recognize the inherent and inalienable right of man to change his home and allegiance, and also the mutual advantage of the free migration and emigration of their citizens and subjects respectively, from one country to the other, for the purposes of curiosity, of trade, or as permanent residents."
—Treaty with China, proclaimed July 28, 1868
[...], the Government of China agrees that the Government of the United States may regulate, limit, or suspend such coming or residence, but may not absolutely prohibit it. The limitation or suspension shall be reasonable and shall apply only to Chinese who may go to the United States as laborers, other classes not being included in the limitation. Legislation taken in regard to Chinese laborers will be of such a character only as is necessary to enforce the regulation, limitation, or suspension of immigration, and immigrants shall not be subject to personal maltreatment or abuse. "
-Angell Treaty of 1880
When I first opened a laundry, it was in company with a partner, who had been in the business for some years. We went to a own about 5000 miles inland, where a railroad was building. We got a board shanty and worked for the men employed by the railroads." |
The Chinaman was welcomed as long as the surface gold was plentiful enough to make rich all who came. But that happy situation was not long to continue. Thousands of Americans came flocking in to the mines. Rich surface claims soon became exhausted. These newcomers did not find it so easy as their predecessors had done to amass large fortunes in a few days. California did not fulfill the promise of the golden tales that had been told of her. These gold-seekers were disappointed. In the bitterness of their disappointment they turned upon the men of other races who were working side by side with them and accused them of stealing their wealth. They boldly asserted that California’s gold belonged to them. The cry of “California for the Americans” was raised and taken up on all sides." |
" My dad was a rice farmer before he left for the United States, and my mother couldn't do it alone, so we let out our rice fields. Rice farming is backbreaking work, especially because there were two crops a year. At the end of the year, they didn't even sell the rice, it was all for their family's consumption. That is why rice farmers were so poor. There was little money changing hands. Wives helped their husbands in the fields and grew vegetables to eat. There were jobs to make cash money, but it was very rare. Every village was self-sufficient and isolated. To get to the next village, you had to walk. There was no other transportation. " |