Introduction~Interview~Current Chinese American~Conclusion~Bibliography


Immigration History:
Throughout the history, China is one of the oldest cultures recorded. Many traditions started thousands and thousands of years ago starting with the Xia Dynasty. In China, roles of responsibility are given out according to their gender, order of birth, age, and their level of society. For example, the oldest male is suppose to be in charge of the family and the oldest women is suppose to take care of the house and make sure that everything clean.
China did not have any close foreign relationship with any country until the British in the Opium War defeated them in the late 1800s. The Chinese were prohibited to share their culture and traditions with barbarians. Anyone that is not closely related with the Emperor of China was considered outsiders but still loyal to the Emperor. However if one was not born in China and does not live in China were considered barbarians that can never be trusted. For example, when Marco Polo arrived in China, the Emperor did not allow trade. Polo was only allowed to buy Chinese products and could not share products that he brought from Italy.
Later when China finally had to allow foreign relationships with countries, many decided to go to America since gold was discovered. Chinese immigration was divided into three different time periods. The first one was from 1849- 1882. This was during the Gold Rush in California. Hundreds of Chinese immigrants traveled to America for gold. The second time period of Chinese immigration was from 1882-1965. This time, only students, diplomats, and merchants were allowed to settle in America. The Chinese were isolated by the Americans and lived segregated ghettos, Chinatown. Lastly, the last time period is from 1965- present. Currently, Asians receive the same rights as Americans. Chinese Americans make up of about eight percent of America today.
China was not welcomed with open arms. America made laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act which affected the Chinese population from a hundred twenty three thousand two hundred to only about sixty two thousand people. The Chinese Exclusion Act passed in May 6, 1882. The Act stated that Chinese immigrants could not settle in America for ten years under penalty of imprisonment and deportation. (Immigration: The Chinese) The Act also punished Chinese immigrants that already live in America. If a Chinese immigrant wanted to leave America, they had to receive a certification for reentry. Also, Chinese immigrants were not allowed to receive a U.S. citizenship. The Geary Act was created by Thomas J.Geary, to continue to build more laws for the Chinese Exclusion Act. The Geary Act was passed in 1892, about a decade after the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed. The new laws required the Chinese immigrants to carry a resident permit. If one was caught not carrying a resident permit, they will be punished. The typical punishment would be deportation or a full year of hard labor. The law denied Chinese immigrants the right to have bail and illegal to let them appear as a witness in court. (Geary, Michael) After many decades, the Chinese Student Protection Act was finally created in 1992. The Act stated that all Chinese immigrants living in the United States before April 11, 1990 were allowed to have permanent residency. Also, the Act temporary banned the deportation of Chinese nationalists for not carrying a resident permit. This is the beginning of Chinese legal rights in America.