The Girl Who Wrote in Silk

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses anti-Chinese racism.

Chinese people began immigrating to the US in large numbers in the mid-19th century, primarily to work as laborers. They often worked in the gold mines of the west, building railroads, in factory jobs, and doing agricultural work. However, many white Americans saw the influx of Chinese immigrants as an economic, moral, and cultural threat. Racial distinctions allowed businesses and industries to hire people of color for much lower wages than unionized white people, which often resulted in white Americans feeling that they had fewer job prospects. 

In response to these concerns, California attempted to pass various pieces of legislation before the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act to limit Chinese immigration. These laws, however, violated treaties the US had with China, leading the federal government to block the effects of the state legislation. In May of 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned the immigration into the United States of all Chinese laborers for 10 years. The Chinese Exclusion Act also made it illegal or impossible for Chinese people currently residing in the United States to re-enter the country after leaving if they didn’t receive certifications from US government bodies. 

The impact of this legislation on Chinese immigration continued with the Geary Act in 1892.