7.+Chinese+Immigrants+(1880s-1920s)

= = =Chinese Immigration 1880-1920 =



By: Mary Cathryn Mathis, Zander Santi, Brittney Townsend, and Grace Martin

Reasons Why Chinese Left Their Homeland
===**The Chinese were attracted to America by the Gold Rush of 1849,** **they felt they would 'get rich quick' by searching for gold in California. Mining jobs were plentiful, and** there were many transcontinental railroad construction jobs. Since the construction jobs did not pay much, many others considered them too low for their social status.  ** Additionally, the Civil War was tearing China ** ** apart during the 1860's so they ** **fled to** Ame **rica to escape the destruction** **of their homes****. When the Chinese immigrants arrived and settled into America, m **ore than 90% lived in the 10 westernmost states. More than two-thirds resided in California. San Francisco became home to basically a quarter of the nation's 107,000 Chinese in 1890. Because of this, San Francisco became the capital of Chinese America. === Two Chinese men at mealtime, most likely on a boat.

was between the Chinese and the Irish-Americans.
 Chinese immigrants with all of their baggage. Probably on Angel Island

The Americans grew angry because the Chinese took away all of the open jobs no
=== matter how small. Some of these jobs included doing the labor work for the transcontinental railroad and the Gold Rush of 1849. Other examples of the jobs the Chinese occupied were canning, timber and agriculture. === ===The Americans also wanted to change the Chinese language so they would fit in and be like the rest of the citizens. People also stood up and made speeches about how they wanted === ===them to go back to their country. They banned the Chinese from being natural citizens just as they did the rest of the immigrants. For example, one of the laws against them called the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited all the chinese workers from coming into the country for a streak of 10 years. === Chinese immigrants on boat; some sharing meals =Side Facts = ===<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Although many of the Americans despised the Chinese for taking all of the job openings, they were particularly appealing to mine operators. This was mainly because they had an acceptance of low wages and a strong, hard work ethic. They also had a willingness to work in dangerous conditions that frightened most others. Business owners would hire brokers to pay for the transport of Chinese across the Pacific Ocean and in return the Chinese would pay it off through their work in the mines. ===

===<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The Chinese workers were paid less than the white workers even for the same work. For example, Chinese workers laying tracks for the transcontinental railroad in Nevada and Utah received basically $26 each month and had to pay for their board. On the other hand, white workers were paid $35 a month and received free board. ===

===<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Following a riot that occurred in 1887, a business man named Denis Kearney formed the Workingmen's Party of California, an anti-Chinese group that was widespread; although Denis Kearney himself had once been an immigrant. He was Irish-born and came over to America as a young man. Then, in San Francisco he established a hauling business and was granted citizenship in 1876. ===

Chinese immigrants lined up on a ship

__<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 17px;">Script __
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Grace: Ni hao

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">M-Cat: or in other words, hello.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Zander: today we are going to tell you about why the Chinese came, what they experience once they got here, and how the Americans reacted to their arrival.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Brittney: here is their story

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">(assemble into spots)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Grace: Once the Chinese immigrants arrive at Angel island they are asked questions about their background. Such questions might include...

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Brittney: “What is your name?”, “Where are you from?”, “Where are you going?”, “How much money do you have with you?”, “Can you read and write?” (to M-Cat and Zander who give a couple fake answers)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Grace: Then doctors will inspect their health so if they are let into America they will not get everyone sick with foreign diseases.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">(Brittney then (softly) lifts up the eyelid and points a flashlight down M-Cat’s mouth)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Grace: If they are all clear they are let in.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">(M-Cat and Zander excitedly walk through)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Grace: The most common reason why the Chinese came to America from the 1880’s -1920’s was because of the Gold Rush of 1849 and job opportunities to work on the transcontinental road.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">(M-Cat walks over to the “river” and starts piling pebbles in it and sifts through them. Zander shovels at the ground symbolizing clearing ways for train tracks)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">M-Cat- Most of the jobs like this had to be fought for because there was so many immigrants looking for cheap work. (still working)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Zander- We mostly fought with the Irish- Americans. Also, laws against us made finding jobs even harder. An example would be the exclusion act. (while working)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Brittney: The exclusion act prohibited chinese labor from coming into America over a period of ten years.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Grace: You can definitely say that the Americans reaction to the Chinese immigrants was far from a “warm welcome”.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Costumes and props


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mary Cathryn Mathis
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Jeans
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Working man shirt
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Boots
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Pillow Case- Filled with books
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Wear hair in low braid
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Pan
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Gold rocks
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Regular Rocks


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Zander Santi
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Traditional Chinese Robe
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Traditional Chinese Rice Hat
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">American made shovel


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Brittney Townsend
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Flashlight
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Lab Coat

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