Angel Island and Chinese Immigration

Describe the changing landscape, including the growth of cities linked by industry and trade, and the development of cities divided according to race,

ethnicity, and class.

1. What does this quote tell you about Chinese immigration?

� “When we first came, we went to the administration building for the physical examination. The doctor told us to take off everything. Really though, it was humiliating. The Chinese never expose themselves like that. They checked you and checked you. We never got used to that kind of thing—and in front of whites.”

-- Mr. Lee, quote in Him Mark Lai et al, Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1980

U.S. Immigration: 1820-1895

New vocab words:

� Race: A socially defined

population based on visible,

genetically transmitted physical

characteristics

� Melting Pot: A place where

cultures blend

(ASSIMILATED)

How might Nativists view Chinese Immigrants differently from European Immigrants?

European Family Chinese Family

Compare and Contrast:European Immigration Asian Immigration

Buddy Buzz: Share with your

neighbor both similarities and

differences.

Angel Island (San Francisco Bay):

� Chinese immigrants

� Came for mining and

railroad jobs

Poetry

Transcontinental Railroad

� The Central Pacific

recruited many

Chinese workers, but

paid them less than

white workers

Primary Source Quote

� “Swinging near the cliff, Ah Goong… dug

holes, then inserted gunpowder and

fuses… He struck match after match and

dropped the burnt matches over the sides.

At last in his fuse caught; he waved, and

the men above pulled hand over hand

hauling him up, pulleys creaking”

-Maxine Hong Kingston, China Men

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

� Prohibits Chinese

laborers from

immigrating

� Chinese could not

become citizens

� First time immigration

restricted based on

race

What do you see?

� What is the

message of this

advertisement?

� Chinese

Laundries were

common on the

West Coast.

What do you see?

Anti-Immigration Feelings for other Immigrants

� Mexicans came for

jobs. Faced similar

prejudices but not to

the same degree.

� Anti-Immigration

feelings towards Irish

as well.

Assimilation?

�Assimilation: The absorption of people into the dominant culture; also called Americanization

�Americanization was?

�In the early 1900's, "Americanization" referred to the movement where immigrants were developed into Americans, e.g., schools, settlement houses, English classes.

Use textbook to answer questions (pages 597-598 and 641-645):

1. Why did the Chinese first come to the U.S. (push/pull

factors)? Where did they go?

2. What was the Chinese Exclusion Act? Why was it

passed?

3. What was Angel Island and where is it located? What

year did Asians begin to land on Angel Island?

4. How was it similar or different from Ellis Island?

5. Why did Mexicans immigrate to the U.S. (push/pull

factors)?

6. What types of racism did immigrants face?

Exit Card

� Your Name

� 2 things you learned

today

� 1 thing you still have a

question about