Layout 1

wars,and famines in China caused large

numbers of Chinese to immigrate to

California in the mid 1800s.These

laborers,called“coolies,”were hard

workers and did many of the“dirty jobs”

no one else would do.The Chinese

immigrants were vitally involved in the

mining process during the California gold

rush,but are perhaps best known for their

contribution to the completion of the

transcontinental railroad,which

physically,economically,and culturally

united the young country (Daniels,2002;

The History of Chinese,2000).Despite

their contributions,the Chinese

experienced severe exploitation and

discrimination which continued into the

mid-1900s.The hostility was so great that

many fled to the coasts where they found

safety and support from small groups of

Chinese society. The Chinese Exclusion

Act of 1882 prevented further

immigration of Chinese to

America; however, some

still managed to find ways

to enter. This was the first

time a specific group of

people was singled out as

undesirable and presented a

dramatic departure from

American policy of

unrestricted immigration

(Wei, 1993).

TheearliestChinese

communitieslookedmuch

like“bachelorcommunities”

inthatmenoutnumberedwomen20to1.

Manyof thenewChineseimmigrantswere

married,buttheirwiveswerestilllivingin

China.Thispreventedassimilationinto

Americansociety,sincefamilyformationis

themajorwayacculturationoccurs

(Daniels,2002).Becauseof theapparent

rejectionofAmericansocietyandthelack

of assimilation,pocketsof Chineseculture

called“Chinatowns”developedacrossthe

nationandstillexisttodayasthriving

culturalcentersinmanymajorcities

(Daniels,2002).

Theeconomic,social,andpolitical

constraintspresentinthe1800sinfluenced

theprevailingsplit-householdChinese

family.Untiltheearly1900s,Chinese-

Americanfamiliestendedtocreatetwo

separatehouseholds,withthemale(or

malesif fatherandson)intheUnitedStates

andthewife,children,andotherrelativesin

China.Husbandsandwivesledcompletely

Chapter 2

While the Chinese immigrants were vitally involved in the mining process

during the California gold rush, they are perhaps best known for their

contribution to the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

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