The Causes of Chinese Migration to the United States - Assignment Example

CHINESE IMMIGRATION Migration is a common phenomenon; people of various countries and from different background migrate in order to seek better opportunities in life. History clearly reveals that the history of Chinese American consisted of ethnic Chinese who were living in United States. Chinese migrating and going towards United States is basically divided in three different parts, beginning with the first one in 19th century. They started off as laborers on various roads like central pacific railroad and transcontinental railroad. Arrival of “Yellow Peril” the name given to Chinese workers at that time gave birth to various opinions about their arrival, from the industrial employers being happy about the arrival of the cheap labor, the general white public was not happy about these new arrivals. Chinese in the beginning also worked in the mining industry however they had to face a lot of discrimination there. By the end of 1868 there were various provisions and rules passed for treating the immigrants well , Treaties like Burlingame Treaty and Tientsin Treaty which were between United States and China and by the end of this United States also declared China as their favorite nations, however when it comes to the general public their reaction was different. The general labor organizations in United States and also the political organizations were completely against Chinese workers and wanted them to leave United States as they considered them degraded race, newspaper was writing against them and the policies made in favor of them also the church leaders were unhappy about their arrival in United States. The general public opinion about Chinese immigrants was so hostile that it forced the passing out of a new act which was the Exclusion act in 1882 which prohibited Chinese entrance in United States for ten years followed by Geary Act which was passed in 1892. These were the only acts passed which were against the entry of any immigrants in United states thus it is clearly depicting the hostility of the public towards earlier Chinese immigrants in United States (Tsai 65-68). This law ended up in creating a lot of problems for not only new Chinese immigrants who wanted to come and live in United States but also for Chinese who were already living in United states as they were without their families and they were not able to meet them or call them as well. Chinese men were not allowed to marry white women under the anti-miscegenation laws (Tsai 65-68) Chinese immigrants were amongst the first Asian immigrants to enter United States. There was a decreasing trend in the immigration of Chinese towards United States during mid 1800’s, there were many reasons for this from the California Gold Rush to the Chinese Exclusion Act which made many Chinese men leave United States and go back to China. Overall there was a decrease in the Chinese Population to about 62,000 people around 1920. After 1940s there was an improvement in the China migrations towards United States, China was with United states during world war thus this also had an impact on the immigrations of Chinese towards United states. After this restrictions like entry to United States of the Chinese immigrants and restrictions on mixed marriages were removed and during the year 1943 the immigration to the U.S was permitted once again and the act which enabled it was Magnuson Act. After the World War there was also an increase in the advancement made by Asian countries like Japan, Korea, India, Vietnamese and even China. There is a huge population of Chinese living in United States and Chinese who are born in United States have extremely less information about the traditional culture of China. As per the findings of 2010, United States Census totaled 3.3 million Chinese living in United States which is almost 1 % of the total population of United States. Chinese migrations are from countries like People’s Republic of China, Taiwan and also Southeast Asia (Migration Information Source). Chinese people living in United States led a life which was very different compared to the people of America. Chinese had to facial extreme racisms along with black after the California gold which brought many rowdy Southern whites. Chinese people were brutally sent out of the mines .The Chinese tried to find the gold bits as well. These Chinese immigrants were not only miners of gold and laborers but they also started working as cooks, peddlers and also store keepers. These Chinese immigrants were doing jobs which many majority of United States was not interested in doing or they use to call these jobs dirty jobs. Later on these Chinese also started working in the agricultural sector, manufacturing sector, some of them became domestic servants and few others became laundry workers, overall majority Chinese immigrants were doing odd jobs (Leo). With the passage of time there was an increase in hostility towards the Chinese, the major cause of that was their hardworking nature which made the local majority not being able to compete with them, this was not acceptable by the general majority. There were various acts of violence from the white people and also the local agricultural workers against the Chinese and it lasted for decades, during the year 1862 almost eighty eight Chinese were murdered (Coolidge 257-258). By 2006 there was a drastic increase in the Chinese immigrants in United States and they became the third largest immigrants following the Mexican and Filipino. Chinese immigrants have basically settled in two states which are New York and California, but there number is also increasing in other states which are Nebraska and Wyoming which was not a very favorable destination of Chinese immigrants. After 2000 almost more than a quarter of Chinese foreign born arrived in United States. By 2006 women were in majority of the people who were Chinese born and were living In United States and almost two third of the Chinese by 2006 were now working age adults. Year 2006 had brought many changes for the Chinese immigrants with half of them becoming US Citizens and almost two third of them becoming English proficient. Bachelors degree was with 2 out of every 5 Chinese who were foreign born adults. Civilian labor force compromised more of foreign born men by 2006 compared to Chinese immigrants (Migration Information). By the year 2006 almost 2 percent of the unauthorized immigrants were from China and one in five Asylees belong to China and was born there. There were almost 2.5% of the eligible Chinese born who had permanent residents by 2007.As per the recent studies the trend to migrate to United States from China is a trend of rich class of China. Almost 60 % people who belong to the wealthy class of China are planning to move to United States. Overall Chinese are not only interested in migrating to United States; they also have huge investments there. About one third of the Chinese who are rich have accumulated investments of 19% of their asset overseas. Chinese have invested majorly in real estate and foreign exchange deposits and this migration is towards United States and Canada (Library of Congress Home). There are many reasons why Chinese migrate to United States and are also interested in migrating to USA, the profit which they earn from their investments is not the priority concern for them, they are attracted towards the living style of United States along with the quality of education which is offered there. Children education is an important factor which pushes migration of Chinese to United States. Future development is another important factor which results in Chinese immigrations to United States. Safe and better life Style of United States which includes the environment of USA which is clean and safe with opportunities for everyone, the political conditions of United State as it is stable along with the judicial system being fair and transparent. Protection of the property also attracts Chinese towards United States along with freedom from the government rules. In China a couple can only have one baby, and there are many other rules which the local Chinese are not happy with thus it make them migrate to United States (Migration Information). Chinese though migrate to United States with the hope of better opportunities and future, the Chinese immigrants gets very less opportunities. Their education level is of not much importance here as majorly Chinese immigrants are working as waiters, waitress and doing low paid jobs in United States. However with time, equity is promoted in the world and technology is also advancing which have made things better for the Chinese immigrants in United States, now the Chinese immigrants are appreciable in the US community. There is also a difference in the life style and the choices of career made by the older Chinese generation compared to the younger generation of China (Migration Information Source). Overall to conclude we can safely say that initially the poor Chinese were attracted towards United states and were the immigrants who came so they can earn and send money to their poor families, followed by some Chinese who faced extreme economic hardships in China, the general trend changed and now rich Chinese basically want to migrate to United States for better opportunities and lifestyle. Chinese though started off with extremely odd jobs and also faced a lot of racism and hardships are now able to make a huge place for themselves in United States. Nobody can deny their hard work and determination even if they were working as miners or laborers or doing odd jobs. Works Cited Luo, Leo. "The History of Chinese Immigration to the U.S.." Redirecting you to University of Hawaii.... N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.. "Migration Information Source - Chinese Immigrants in the United States ." Migration Information Source. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. . "Migration information." migration information. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.. Coolidge, Mary E. B. R. Chinese Immigration. New York: Arno Press, 1969. Print. Tsai, Shih-shan H. The Chinese Experience in America. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1986. Print. "Chinese Immigration to the United States - For Teachers (Library of Congress)." Library of Congress Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. Read More