Why Chinese wanted to go to America in 19th century? What’s their specific goal?

            In 19^th century, some came to “The Gold Mountain”, some come to the United State for having a good opportunity of developing their jobs, and some rice people come to the United State for having better life or studying.

Chinese migrated to the United State can be divided into three periods actually (1).

 
The first period is from 1849 to 1882. The first one is the shortest. It began after the California Gold Rush, which is goal for most of Chinese came to the United State (2). They left home because of economic and political problem in China. Many young men come to the west of United State to be the laborers, such as railroad laborers, agricultural laborers or the laborers in the manufacturing industries.  After several years, because of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, it was ended (3). The Chinese Exclusion Act was agreed with Congress and approved on May, 6 1882. It was the first significant laws to suppress migration to the United State (4). Though the Chinese Exclusion Act had an important role to restraining migrant population, after the Chinese Exclusion Act, there were still about 11000 Chinese in the United State.
  

 

The second period is from 1882 to 1965. During that time, only diplomats, merchants, and students and their dependents were allowed to come to the United State (5). Since 1870s, Chinese Qing government began to allow the young people to study in the United State, and they also had the Chinese Education Mission, which is the first group of students studied in the United State. Yung Wing, the most famous Chinese student who studied in the Yale University. He also was the first student graduated from the USA. After him, many youth came to the United State for studying; Sun Yat-Sen also was an international student in Hawaii, USA. After 1964 and 1965, the Civil Rights Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act brought more Chinese migrated to the United State (6). These new laws helped Chinese were easier to go to the United State. With these laws help, thousands of Chinese people came to the America each year.  

The third period is from 1965 to present. Nowadays, more and more Chinese come to the United State. Because they are mostly settle in the west the United State, such as California and west of the Rocky Mountain, western development of economy defined their role for the United State.  There are many Chinatowns in the many cities in the United State. By the late 19^th century, approximately over 80% of the Chinese population was found in Chinatown in major cities, such as the San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and New York. Through Chinese American live in the United State, they still have their tradition; they established their roots in Chinatown. In fact, in the 19^th century, most of Chinese immigrants could not saw the future in the United State, so they created and developed their efficient Chinese lifestyle.

In a conclusion, the Chinese come to the United State because of economy, technology and maybe they want a new environment to create the life they want. In a word, their goal for coming to the United State just for their future.


                                                              Citation

(1)   "Chinese Immigration to the United States." Chinese Immigration. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
(2)   "Chinese Immigration to the United States." Chinese Immigration. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
(3)   "Chinese Immigration to the United States." Chinese Immigration. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
(4)   "Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)." Our Documents -. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
(5)   "Chinese Immigration to the United States." Chinese Immigration. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
(6)   "Chinese Immigration to the United States." Chinese Immigration. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.