The Exclusion of the Chinamen

     The Chinese were one minority group of many others that immigrated to the United States in the 1800's.  The Chinese arrived in time for the California Gold Rush but quickly learned mining for gold in California in the late 1840's and early 1850's was a bust. They had been targets of hostility and found different work like working restaurants and laundry. The situation of the transcontinental railroad, which was predominately built by Chinese immigrants due to the fact that the original workers either refused or left for other work opportunities.Of course, they were not the ideal worker since they were so much smaller in stature and not seen as able to do much labor, they brought positive results at their new jobs. Soon, thousands were recruited to work on the railroad and it all spiraled from there. Although they were excellent in their works habits, the Chinamen were not seen as any more than a way to get more work done for less; this was especially true since they primarily worked the dangerous unskilled jobs that white men did not do.
     The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 resulted from the uselessness of the Chinese; the railroad was finished, a labor source was no longer needed and more unwelcome than ever. There was much violence against the Chinese from anti-Chinese supporters, mainly the other immigrants and/or white individuals. In document A, a play dubbed "The Chinese Must Go", the stereotypical associations to Chinese workers are exemplified through the dialogue exchanged between three main characters. What is also exemplified is the idea that the Chinese were "stealing" the jobs and money that "rightfully" belonged to the white man. This is supported by document C, a speech to the workingmen of San Francisco which was an anti-Chinese group as well. It states that the immigration of the Chinese pose a threat to the foundation of their community as well as the invasion of their jobs having to do with labor; these men take the situation personally, and shows how invested they are in getting rid of any competition that foreigners brought to earning money. In document D, an autobiography of a Chinese immigrant, the envy and disgust that other minorities felt towards the Chinese is clearly stated by one who experienced it. They were also targeted through the blatant prohibition of naturalization of Chinese in 1878 and interracial marriage in 1880, even though Chinamen were not even allowed to bring along their wives (many were suspected of being prostitutes due their high rates of importation which was against the law passed in 1870).
    Ultimately, the Exclusion Act was passed not only because the Chinese were no longer needed, but because they were seen as a threat to the American way of life. By the American way of life, I mean the part where the white men are given more and everyone else who is not white is given less; the overwhelming numbers of the Chinese jeopardized this idea, hence the outward attack at isolating these poor immigrants.