What does the Chinese immigrant express about immigrating to America?
It was more difficult than expected and changed the opinion that all were
welcomed to America.
 China In the mid-1800s, China’s population exploded. This
factor, coupled with severe unemployment, poverty, and
famine, pushed Chinese from their homeland. At the same
time, news of the gold strike in California in 1848 pulled
Chinese to the United States. Demand for rail workers in the
1860s also attracted Chinese immigrants.
 Japan Between 1900 and 1910, the number of Japanese
immigrants to the United States increased rapidly. Economic
difficulties caused by industrialization pushed immigrants
from Japan. Many of those who left Japan went first to
Hawaii to work on plantations there. They immigrated to the
United States from Hawaii. Until 1910, Asian immigrants
entered the United States via Angel Island and awaited
immigration hearings. The wait to enter the country often
lasted months.
Asian and European Immigration
 How does the number of immigrants from Asia
compare with the number of immigrants from
Southern and Eastern Europe in the period
between 1860 and 1920?
 There are many times more European immigrants
than Asian immigrants.
Asian and European Immigration
 How might an immigration hearing on Angel
Island differ from the inspection and
questioning on Ellis Island?
 Communication was likely more difficult, since
Asian languages differ more dramatically from
English than some European languages. Asian
immigrants were not as numerous. Months-long
waiting periods suggest Asian immigrants were
more harshly scrutinized than Europeans.
How did Lee Chew adjust to American society?
Lee learned English, saved money, and eventually was able to open a
business.
 Anti-immigration Groups A combination of racism and labor
tension led to a rise in nativism. Anti-immigration groups formed
across the United States. One example is the American Protective
Association, which agreed not to hire or vote for Catholics. This
form of discrimination was geared mainly toward the Irish.
 Anti-immigrant Legislation The Chinese Exclusion Act, passed in
1882, halted immigration and the citizenship process for
naturalizing Chinese immigrants for 10 years. The law was renewed
in 1892, and it became permanent in 1902. Legislation in California
deprived Asian immigrants of the right to own property and forced
their children to go to segregated schools. The Gentlemen’s
Agreement between the United States and Japan ended Japanese
immigration.
 Literacy Tests Nativists pushed for the passage of literacy tests to
create another barrier for new immigrants entering the United
States. An English literacy test was recommended for immigrants in
1905.
Nativism
 What evidence shows that nativism had widespread
support among Americans?
 Americans formed organizations based on discrimination.
Legislators at all levels of government responded to public
pressure and passed anti-immigrant legislation.
 What reasons motivated the passage of the Chinese
Exclusion Act?
 They would not understand English, and because many of the
“new” immigrants came from the poorest levels of their
homeland, they might not be literate in their native language,
either.
What challenges regarding
immigration do Americans still
face?
How has immigration changed?
Answer: People resent costs
created by accommodating
immigrants’ languages, especially
those who enter the country
illegally. The concern of some
Americans that immigrants “steal
jobs.” Encourage EL students to
contribute to the discussion.