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Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans

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The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a dark chapter in American history. This landmark legislation banned the immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years and severely restricted the rights of Chinese Americans already living in the United States. The act was motivated by a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment that had been building in the country for decades.

Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans

by Jean Pfaelzer

4.7 out of 5

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Chinese immigrants began arriving in the United States in large numbers in the 1850s, during the California Gold Rush. They were drawn to the United States by the promise of economic opportunity, but they faced discrimination and violence from white Americans who saw them as a threat to their jobs and livelihoods.

Anti-Chinese sentiment intensified in the 1870s, as the United States economy entered a period of recession. White workers blamed Chinese immigrants for taking their jobs and driving down wages. In 1871, a mob of white workers attacked and killed 19 Chinese miners in Los Angeles. In 1877, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling for the expulsion of all Chinese from the city.

In response to the growing anti-Chinese violence, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The act banned the immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years and severely restricted the rights of Chinese Americans already living in the United States. Chinese immigrants were not allowed to become naturalized citizens, and they were not allowed to bring their families to the United States.

The Chinese Exclusion Act had a devastating impact on the Chinese American community. The number of Chinese immigrants in the United States declined from 105,000 in 1880 to 25,000 in 1890. Many Chinese Americans were forced to leave the United States, and those who remained faced discrimination and violence.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1943, but its legacy continues to this day. The act created a system of racial discrimination that lasted for decades and shaped the way that Chinese Americans were treated in the United States.

## The Forgotten War

The Chinese Exclusion Act is often referred to as the "forgotten war" against Chinese Americans. This is because the act was not widely publicized at the time, and its impact on the Chinese American community was largely ignored by historians.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the Chinese Exclusion Act and its legacy. Scholars have begun to explore the ways in which the act shaped the Chinese American experience and influenced American society as a whole.

The Chinese Exclusion Act is a reminder of the dark side of American history. It is a story of discrimination, violence, and injustice. But it is also a story of resilience and survival. The Chinese American community has overcome adversity to become one of the most successful and vibrant communities in the United States.

## The Legacy of the Chinese Exclusion Act

The Chinese Exclusion Act had a profound impact on the Chinese American community. The act created a system of racial discrimination that lasted for decades and shaped the way that Chinese Americans were treated in the United States.

One of the most lasting legacies of the Chinese Exclusion Act is the way it shaped the Chinese American identity. Chinese Americans were forced to live in segregated communities and were denied the opportunity to participate fully in American society. This led to a sense of isolation and alienation among Chinese Americans.

The Chinese Exclusion Act also had a significant impact on the American economy. The act prevented Chinese immigrants from bringing their families to the United States, which led to a shortage of Chinese labor. This shortage drove up wages and contributed to the economic growth of the United States.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was a dark chapter in American history. This landmark legislation banned the immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years and severely restricted the rights of Chinese Americans already living in the United States. The act was motivated by a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment that had been building in the country for decades.

Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans

by Jean Pfaelzer

4.7 out of 5