Chinese Experience in Late 19th-Century America. History Coursework

The Chinese Experience in Late 19th-Century America
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The experience of the Chinese immigrants in America was contributed mainly by the American imperialism that was prevalent during the late nineteenth century. American imperialism refers to the cultural, military and economic influence that the United States had on other nations. Having considered themselves as being responsible for enlightening the savage nations by educating them on concepts such as democracy, Christianity, and industrialization, America was quickly drawn towards imperialism. The issue of equal rights and discrimination was prevalent during the 19th century, with black slaves pushing for equal rights and the end of racism. The Chinese immigration into a country that discriminated minority races was a wrong move, but one that brought significant changes in the history of American Civil rights.
Core Question: Knowing that Chinese immigration was significant, how then did they contribute to the civil rights movement?
Document 1: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. “The Coming of the Chinese.” 2006
The immigration of Chinese residents to America began as early as 1838, but a majority of the immigrants moved to America in 1850. The immigrants left their homeland to look for greener pastures in the United States. Being a land of greater opportunities, America presented the Chinese with a better chance of making more money and returning home as wealthy individuals. Nonetheless, Americans had a different perception of the Chinese people. Their view of the Chinese people was expressed by the stereotypical images that were portrayed in the media from time to time. Much like other immigrants, the Chinese maintained their culture and practices despite being in a foreign nation. However, the Americans continued to discriminate the Chinese by concluding that their culture was too primitive to blend with theirs.
Question: Based on document 1, do you think discrimination resulted from cultural differences? Alternatively, was it that the Americans felt their superiority was under threat?
Document 2: Deborah Samuel Chinese Immigration, Exclusion and the Chinese American Experience. 2019.
The suffering and discrimination faced by the Chinese during the late nineteenth century was not always the case. The Chinese have been part of the positive, memorable event that took place in American history, including the celebration of California’s transition to a state in 1850. During the celebrations, one judge even spoke out and stated that the Chinese together with other foreigners are appreciated and have positively contributed to the state’s transition. However, white Americans were more obsessed with their riches, and the Chinese proved to be very hardworking. As a result, the Americans turned the tables on the Chinese through the Miner’s Tax of 1852. The Chinese immigrants were hardworking, and their level of skills enabled them to come up with solutions and carry out tasks that proved difficult for the Americans. The level of intelligence and hard work threatened the superiority of Americans who began attacking Chinese residents. The American government-imposed laws that discouraged Chinese immigrants from coming into the nation by increasing taxes on immigrants to fifty dollars per immigrant.
Question: If document 2 states that the Americans hated the Chinese for their commitment and hard work, did the Chinese people feel the same way for the Americans?
Document 3: Ronald Takaki. Strangers from a different shore. 1998.
The Chinese way of life and culture differed significantly from that of the Americans. Their culture and religion were different in that they played different games, engaged in different activities and behaviors, used opium, wore different clothes and spoke a different language. Moreover, the Chinese considered the foreign country as a place they had come to gather wealth and soon return to their homeland. To the Chinese, their presence in America signified slavery, which was much similar to the period of the Manchu conquerors who established the Qing Dynasty. During this period, the Chinese people wore long hair in the braid at the back of their heads, to symbolize submission. Similarly, the same style was worn by Chinese men during their stay in America. Such hairstyle meant that the people of China did not value their stay in America and had no intention of staying in the country for an extended period. Similar to the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese immigrants longed for the day they would return to their homeland. The intentions of the Chinese immigrants were therefore not associated with dominating the American culture or even competing for superiority with the Americans. Instead, they needed to improve their living standards and America, being the land of opportunity, presented the Chinese with the best chance of improving their livelihood.
Question: Why then would the Chinese not leave America and seek a livelihood in other developing states like Europe.
Document 4: Caroline Lee and Clark Lee. Chinese Immigration. 1998.
The Chinese immigrants who moved to America were able to endure the discrimination and violence projected by the American citizens because of similar circumstances they had experienced in their country during the mid-nineteenth century. Under the rule of foreign Manchus, China had been in turmoil for the better part of the nineteenth century. The Manchus greatly disregarded the people of China and made them wear long queues as an act of submission. At the same time, European powers had spread their influence over a significant part of China more specifically, after winning the Opium War in the country. The people of China underwent endless suffering and domination from the Europeans and the Manchus, together with economic, and humanitarian problems that eventually resulted in the Taiping Rebellion. The war resulted in the deaths of many Chinese residents and the loss of land and homes. Millions of Chinese were forced to begin their lives anew. Luckily, during the same period, America discovered gold in some of its streams across the Californian hills, and this discovery presented the Chinese with an opportunity to gather wealth and fortune for their families. Having lost most of their possession and families during the war, the Chinese immigrants had nothing to stop them from migrating to America. The historical wrangles between the people of China and the Europeans had made it impossible for the Chinese to consider moving to Europeans states to earn a living. Instead, America was the best option, and the violence and discrimination by the American people was nothing compared to what the Chinese immigrants had experienced back in their homeland.
Question: Since Document 4 explains that the Chinese were used to discrimination, does it mean that they did not fight back?
Document 5: United States Comm...