Along with social discrimination inside of the United States, simply entering the US was a trying ordeal for many. As you can see in the picture on the bottom right of the page, is a group or female Chinese immigrants trying to enter the US, and are waiting in a holding chamber on Angel Island before they are examined by US immigration officers for and diseases and other potentially hazardous contagions. Below, an image of one of the inspections carried out.
|
Chinese immigration to the US has really consisted of three main waves. The first of these waves was during the 19th century, when Chinese immigrants came to the west coast of the continental US, mainly as labour for building the transcontinental railroad, and in mining operations. However, Chinese immigrants suffered from racial discrimination on all social levels. While employers were very eager to get ahold of the new and cheap labour source, that was the Chinese immigrant, the mainly white population was angered by the "yellow peril." Opposition to Chinese immigration became so hostile that the United States Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion act. This act prohibited all immigration from China for 10 years, and was the only US ever to prevent immigration and naturalisation on the basis of race.
|