Chinese Immigrantion in 19th Century Essay Example

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 19th Century Chinese Immigration exhibit. This exhibit will educate people of all ages, colors, and races about immigration that took place in the 19th century. My goal is for my audience to grasp what they learn about the Chinese and what the Chinese went through while they were in America. I hope my audience will reflect on the differences and similarities between the 19th century and the 21st century and consider what still happens to immigrants today in our country. This exhibit will also be held virtually for those who cannot participate physically and can be found on the museum’s website for people all over the country to view. So, please share and request this exhibit with your friends and family. I hope that in the fullness of time, you will all become willing and open to sharing the knowledge you learn today with others and promote changes to the immigration difficulties that are still being faced in this country today. 

Officially titled "An act to execute certain treaty stipulations relating to Chinese," also known as The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, was a law that prohibited the Chinese, and eventually, anyone from any Asian country, to enter the United States for ten years. They were the only ethnic group to ever be excluded from the United States. The only way an Asian was able to enter the United States was if they already had family living there before the act was passed. The Chinese tolerated working and living in extremely poor conditions. They sent the majority of their earnings to China and had accepted working and getting paid less than they deserved since they were desperate for money to feed their families. Many Chinese have been desperate since, at the time, China was going through a political disorder, famine, and revolt, which caused social chaos. According to guides.loc.Gov, The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was “extended in 1892 for another ten years by the Geary Act and then made permanent in 1902. In 1943, at a time when the United States and China were allies during World War II, the ban on Chinese immigration and naturalization was finally repealed.” This act took about 60 years before it was fully repealed.

Chinese immigrants in the 19th century were treated harshly for the reason that they spoke a different language, had a different lifestyle and were incredibly diligent workers. Today, immigrants are still treated harshly in the United States. Araceli Hernandez, a tenth-grade student, spoke out about some challenges she faces often in regards to racism. She says “My parents are food vendors and I accompany them to work in the summer and during school breaks. Sometimes some people simply want to slam us with rude slurs. I have heard them say things like “go back to your country” or “you don’t belong here” or “all you do is add to the trash.” Hearing those words makes my heart ache and angers me because my parents work hard—day and night—to give me a better life than they ever had.” As we can observe, immigration is still an occurring act. Not only is it seen among adults but it’s seen among children and teenagers as well. Although Araceli was not physically hurt, arrested, charged, or was forcibly sent back to her country, she grew emotionally hurt and offended. I hope you understand the connection with immigration from both the past and present- it’s rude and it happens frequently. We can learn and acknowledge the differences and similarities of immigration from the 19th century to the present day. A difference would be that America no longer excludes anyone from coming into the country and a similarity would be that immigrants still receive unfair and harsh treatment. 

However, our knowledge and understanding of immigration in the 19th century can help us establish more informed decisions about immigration today. From hearing stories and reading documents about Chinese immigrants, we learn that we could treat immigrants with more kindness and respect. Overall, they are human beings trying to live a life just like you and I. Immigrants came and still come to the United States to find better jobs and opportunities to produce enough money to raise and support their families, better schools to have their children attend, easy access to health care professionals, and more. Taking what has happened in history into consideration and what still happens today, knowledgeable decisions and actions should be made and lessons can be learned. We can compare the discrimination that is happening in our country today- with African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asians- to the causes and effects of The Chinese Exclusion Act and create change.  

Native-born Americans made several assumptions about Chinese immigrants. Some examples include that they bring diseases, such as smallpox, malaria, and leprosy, that they steal all available jobs so there’s none left for the white Americans, and that all the Chinese do is beg. According to Britannica.com, “Americans in the West persisted in their stereotyping of the Chinese as degraded, exotic, dangerous, and competitors for jobs and wages.” Nativists toward Chinese immigrants feared that the Chinese were “taking away the livelihood and destroying the dignity of white workingmen.” Nativists were worried about Americans’ health, way of living, and chances of obtaining jobs. They thought immigrants would steal opportunities from Americans and ruin the country economically. Due to those certain concepts and obligations, Congress passed The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. I don’t want this exhibit to be something that doesn’t encourage engagement. So, how will engagement be encouraged through this exhibit? This exhibit will promote greater engagement with America’s diverse immigrant heritage by sharing not only stories, but pictures, and tangible artifacts that will connect today’s generations with 19th-century generations. Therefore, look around and let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.