Social Studies Programs - Americans through History

Social Change, Reconstruction / Industrialization: Ng Poon Chew and Chinese in America

Download Social Change, Reconstruction / Industrialization Word Document

Similar content addressed in SOLs: VS.1a-i; USII.1a-h; USII.3b; USII.3e

Beginning in the mid-1800s, Chinese people began to immigrate to the United States. Many came to escape troubles in China and to find work in America. Chinese immigrants became an important part of the labor force on the West Coast and in port cities along the Eastern seaboard. As their population grew in the later 1800s, the Chinese Americans began to re-create their traditional cultural practices in America.

• One prominent early Chinese leader was Ng Poon Chow. Ng owned a daily Chinese newspaper, was a well-respected public speaker, and famous writer. He was one the first Chinese immigrants to become a public figure nationally.
• In the 1800s, most Chinese Americans settled in California. The city of San Francisco, located in Northern California, was the first major city to host a large Chinese population. In the city, many of the Chinese lived near one another, in the city’s “Chinatown.”
• Many aspects of Chinese could be found throughout American culture. Seen here is a traditional Chinese dragon in a “fiesta” parade in Los Angeles.
• Though the Chinese came to America hopeful of new opportunities, their arrival was often met with complication, anger, and resentment.  One issue that became important in America was the idea of “Chinese Exclusion.”  From the 1850s through the late 1870s, a large number of Chinese people left China and moved to California, in search of jobs and stability.  Because of the large number of immigrants entering the labor force and a lack of jobs in California, the Chinese immigrants were met with increased anger in the later 1880s.  In 1882, the government formally outlawed Chinese immigration with the Chinese Exclusion Act, which said that no new Chinese laborers could enter the U.S. for 10 years.
• Though the Chinese came to America hopeful of new opportunities, their arrival was often met with difficulty, anger, and resentment. One issue that became important in America was the idea of “Chinese Exclusion.” From the 1850s through the late 1870s, a large number of Chinese people left China and moved to California, in search of jobs and stability. Because of the large number of immigrants entering the labor force and a lack of jobs in California, Americans met the Chinese immigrants were met with increased anger in the later 1880s. In 1882, the government formally outlawed Chinese immigration with the Chinese Exclusion Act, which said that no new Chinese laborers could enter the U.S. for 10 years.