the chinese exclusion act of 1882
Unlike European immigrants, Asians were victimized by public policies. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 singled out Chinese individuals on a racial basis. This act stated...
- That for 10 years Chinese labor was prohibited.
- Required the few non-laborers who sought entry to obtain certification from the Chinese government proving that they were qualified to immigrate.
- If they left the United States, they had to obtain certifications to re-enter.
- Congress, refused State and Federal courts the right to grant citizenship to Chinese resident aliens
When the exclusion act expired in 1892, Congress extended it for 10 years in the form of the Geary Act.
tHE GEARY ACT
- This extension, made permanent in 1902, added restrictions by requiring each Chinese resident to register and obtain a certificate of residence.
- Without a certificate, she or he faced deportation.
- Congress adopted new means for regulation: quotas and requirements.
- Leaving a yearly limit of 105 Chinese and gave foreign-born Chinese the right to seek naturalization.
world war two
On December 7, 1941, US naval base, Pearl Harbor was surprise attacked by the Japanese Navy. This attack caused The United States of America to enter World War II.
This attack started the horrendous treatment of the Japanese living in America. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which targeted Japanese Americans for persecution and deprived them of basic rights. The government gathered 120,000 Californians of Japanese descent. Out of the 120,000, two-thirds of them were American born, and citizens. The Japanese Americans that were "gathered," were relocated to isolated camps. They were kept away from their homes for two years! The majority, if any, were never convicted or formally accused of a crime.
LIVING CONDITIONS IN RELOCATION CAMPS
LIVING CONDITIONS IN RELOCATION CAMPS
- Overcrowded.
- Lived in barracks without plumbing or cooking facilities.
- Coal was hard to come by, so the barracks were rarely heated and they only had blankets for warmth.
- Food was rationed out at an expense of 48 cents per person.
MANY CHINESE AMERICANS WORE PINS STATING, "I AM CHINESE" TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES FROM JAPANESE AMERICANS
POST WAR
After the release of the internees, Japanese Americans had to rebuild their homes and businesses. Congress mandated a formal apology, and provided a $20,000 compensation for former internees.
". . . A NEW SOCIETY WHERE ALL SHOULD BE WELCOMED, CHINESE IRISH, GERMAN- ALL, ALL, WITHOUT EXPECTATIONS."
-WALT WHITMAN
-WALT WHITMAN
Today there is still a stigma of being labeled national enemies simply because of their race.
References
Villanueva, R. Ross, S. Japanese Relocation Center. Retrieved from
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/internment1.html
(1989) The Chinese Exclusion Act. Retrieved from
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=47
Asian Americans: World War II. Retrieved from
http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/calcultures/ethnic_groups/subtopic2c.
html
List of Countries in Asia. Retrieved from https://www.countries-ofthe-world.com/countries-of-
asia.html
(2015, October). Asian-Americans and Stereotypes. New York Times, 10
Taylor, C., Stern, B. (1997) Asian-Americans: Television advertising and the “Model Minority”
Stereotype. Journal of Advertising, 26(2) 47-61
George, A., Colom, E., Hamilton, J. (2001) Diversity, Oppression, and Social Functioning. Boston,
Massachusetts: Pearson
Takaki, R. (1989) Strangers From a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. Canada: Little,
Brown
Villanueva, R. Ross, S. Japanese Relocation Center. Retrieved from
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/internment1.html
(1989) The Chinese Exclusion Act. Retrieved from
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=47
Asian Americans: World War II. Retrieved from
http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/calcultures/ethnic_groups/subtopic2c.
html
List of Countries in Asia. Retrieved from https://www.countries-ofthe-world.com/countries-of-
asia.html
(2015, October). Asian-Americans and Stereotypes. New York Times, 10
Taylor, C., Stern, B. (1997) Asian-Americans: Television advertising and the “Model Minority”
Stereotype. Journal of Advertising, 26(2) 47-61
George, A., Colom, E., Hamilton, J. (2001) Diversity, Oppression, and Social Functioning. Boston,
Massachusetts: Pearson
Takaki, R. (1989) Strangers From a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. Canada: Little,
Brown