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Chinese immigrants begin arriving in large numbers during the California Gold Rush.
Significance: Marked the first major wave of Chinese immigration; they were recruited for cheap labor.
Key Players: Chinese laborers, American employers, California communities -
Over 10,000 Chinese workers helped build the Central Pacific Railroad.
Significance: A critical contribution to U.S. infrastructure, despite dangerous and discriminatory working conditions.
Key Players: Chinese laborers, Central Pacific Railroad Company -
First U.S. federal law to ban immigration based on nationality.
Significance: Institutionalized anti-Chinese discrimination; halted immigration for 10 years.
Key Players: U.S. Congress, President Chester A. Arthur -
A fire destroyed birth records, allowing some Chinese to claim U.S. citizenship.
Significance: Led to “paper sons,” who used fake documents to enter the U.S.
Key Players: Chinese families, U.S. immigration officers. -
Main entry point for Asian immigrants, where Chinese were detained and interrogated.
Significance: Demonstrated harsh scrutiny and racism against Chinese immigrants.
Key Players: Chinese immigrants, U.S. immigration officials -
Chinese Exclusion Act is repealed due to WWII alliances.
Significance: Allowed Chinese to immigrate again in limited numbers and become naturalized citizens.
Key Players: U.S. Congress, Chinese American community -
Removed national origin quotas and allowed more Chinese immigration.
Significance: Sparked a second wave of Chinese immigration and helped reunite families.
Key Players: President Lyndon B. Johnson, Congress -
A Chinese American man was killed in a hate crime in Detroit.
Significance: Galvanized the Asian American civil rights movement.
Key Players: Vincent Chin, Ronald Ebens, Michael Nitz, civil rights activists -
More Chinese Americans were elected to public office, including governors and Congress members.
Significance: Showed growing political power and assimilation.
Key Players: Gary Locke, Judy Chu, Andrew Yang -
Rise in violence and hate crimes against Asian Americans during the pandemic.
Significance: Sparked nationwide activism and awareness about racism and xenophobia.
Key Players: Stop AAPI Hate, community activists