Background Information~Interview~Current Chinese American~ Conclusion~ Bibliography


The purpose of this website is to learn in- depth about the Chinese immigration. It was a difficult time period for China after the Opium War against the British. China was also suffering major famines, floods, rebellion, droughts, and civil disorder. Many Chinese immigrated to America after gold was discovered in California. In order to be able to arrive in the United States, many had to borrow money from families or agencies. Chinese immigrants started moving to China during the Gold Rush in 1849. The Chinese were the first Asian immigrants to settle in America. Majority of the Chinese settlers in America were poor males, also known as sojourners. Sojourners are poor males that left their children and wife to arrive in America in search for riches. (Asian Americans: Chinese Immigration) However many of the sojourners did not make enough money to go back to China. Many laws passed by the Americans also restricted them. Ergo most of the Chinese immigrants found a job and remained in America permanently and found a new life and started a new family. After the gold rush, many worked as agricultural laborers, on railroad construction crews, and low- paying industrial jobs. (Chinese Immigration to the United States) While the lucky Chinese immigrants that received enough money to go back to China brought all of the remainder of their savings with them. Chinese immigrants struggled to receive rights in American and made many transitions to adapt into the American society since it is a extreme difference between China and the United States.