6.2. Chinese Immigration http://www.ck12.org
6.2 Chinese Immigration
Beginning around 1850, thousands of Chinese immigrants came to the West Coast of the United States to mine for
gold and work building America’s transcontinental railroad. But over the next few decades, attitudes toward the
Chinese soured. They were not allowed to give testimony in court or become naturalized citizens, and the state
of California passed a law against interracial marriage. The Chinese Exclusion Act, passed in 1882, specifically
prohibited Chinese immigration. As you read the documents below, try to understand why the American Congress
passed the Chinese Exclusion Act.
“The Chinese Must Go”
Source: The page below comes from a play called “The Chinese Must Go:” A Farce in Four Acts by Henry Grimm,
published in San Francisco, 1879. In just the first page, you will be able to see many of the common stereotypes of
Chinese immigrants in the 19 thcentury.(Figure 6.1).
FIGURE 6.1
“THE CHINESE MUST GO”
ACT I.
Ah Coy. I telly you, white man big fools; eaty too muchee, drinky too muchee, and talkee too muchee.