Chinese Immigration Dbq

As a result of European dominance over China after the Opium War, many Chinese immigrated to the United States for a better life. Upon arriving, the Chinese worked in mining and constructing railroads, they faced discrimination from workers in the American economy, and the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to limit the future of Chinese immigration into the United States. Due to all these obstacles that they encountered, the immigration to the United States for a better life did not go as planned for the Chinese. When the Chinese first came to the United States, they had to scramble to find a way to earn a living wage. However, an extensive majority of the immigrants had very little education and work experience. As a result, they had to find work that required very little skill in English, and skills that could be learned quickly. Railroad companies in America were expanding at an extremely fast pace; this was good work for the Chinese. However, the work was very difficult, the pay was low, and many workers were

Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act; this act was created to suspend Chinese workers from the country under the consequence of imprisonment and deportation for 10 years. The act was renewed in 1892 for another 10 years, and in 1902 Chinese immigration was permanently illegal. These laws were very effective; for instance, Chinese immigrants in the United States massively decreased. The act was the first in American history to place restrictions on immigration. After China became an ally to the United States in World War II, the Exclusion Act was finally removed in 1943. Chinese immigrants were finally qualified for citizenship, and new limits were set for immigration. Even more changes came 2 years later when new laws were passed that allowed Chinese Americans to bring their wives into America. Family life was finally possible for the Chinese community in the United