Anti-Asian Riots, 1907
Closing the Door to Immigration Many Canadians disliked Sifton s open-door immigration policy Why? 1. Labour organizations feared that unskilled workers might take jobs away from their union members. 2. Some feared that the British character of Canada would be lost 3. French-Canadians thought their culture and people would be overrun
B.C. & Immigration Immigration was a very thorny issue in British Columbia. Why? 1. Employers were hiring Asian immigrants in the mines, forests, and the canneries because they worked hard and for less money.
Sino-phobia Chinese immigrants comprised the largest single immigrant group in BC Why? 1. Cariboo Gold Rush 2. Construction of the CPR Mostly men lived in Chinatowns in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, and New Westminster. Most Chinese were employed in the Salmon industry
Frank Oliver became the Minister of the Interior in 1905. He supported the Anti- Asian sentiment in B.C. He introduced a more selective immigration policy aimed at Asian immigrants. Provincial governments started to restrict Chinese, Japanese, and East Indian immigrants Frank Oliver
Chinese Head Tax Canada's response to anti- Chinese sentiment was to appoint a Royal Commission. Subsequently, the government imposed a head tax on incoming Chinese labourers of $50, equal to the maximum one year's savings of a Chinese worker in Canada.
Chinese Head Tax In 1901, Canada doubled the head tax to $100, and appointed a second Royal Commission. It concluded Chinese immigrants were obnoxious, dangerous and unfit for Canada. In 1904, the same year that the United States extended its Exclusion Act indefinitely, Canada raised the head tax to $500, equal to two years' gross earnings of a Chinese labourer here
Hostility Increases Hostility increased towards Chinese immigrants during the economic recession of 1903-1907 Social reformers began to associate the Chinese with crime, immorality and disease Vancouver s Chinatown became a focus for reformers wanting to highlight the dreadful living conditions (inadequate and overcrowded housing, poor sewage and water facilities)
Hostility Increases Although Chinatown merchants asked for improved conditions during the early 20 th century, city councilors and journalists persisted in seeing the terrible living and working conditions as a result of moral and cultural flaws among the Chinese population Outside observers were disturbed by the tendency of the Chinese to smoke opium, and thus a law prohibiting the sale of the drug was passed in 1908! Note: opium was first introduced to the Chinese by the British
Anti-Asian Riot in Vancouver, 1907 Threatened by the low wages paid to Asians during the economic recession, hostile to a culture that they saw as criminal and immoral, the majority culture tried to enforce its ideal of a White Canada In 1907, the Asiatic Exclusion League was formed in BC by members of a working men s association concerned about the impact of the continued presence of poorly paid Chinese workers
Anti-Asian Riot in Vancouver, 1907 On September 8, 1907, upset that 11,000 Asians had immigrated to Canada that year, and hearing rumours that more were arriving, thousands of British Columbians marched through the streets of Vancouver to protest the settlement of Chinese people Protesters carried signs Keep Canada White and Stop the Yellow Peril while signing Rule Britannia
Anti-Asian Riot in Vancouver, 1907 More than 10,000 people assembled outside city hall They burned a statue of Dunsmuir (coal-mining baron who dared to hire Chinese) After giving wild speeches against the Chinese, leaders encouraged the crowd to move towards Chinatown and Little Tokyo Four hours of rioting began with the breaking of windows and looting of Asian businesses While the Chinese did not fight back, the Japanese did Many on both sides were hurt (2 Whites dead, unknown number of Chinese or Japanese dead)
Effects of the Riot Immediate effect was to heighten racial feelings between Asians and White Canadians Racism directed to all non-white groups (including Aboriginal groups)
Effects of the Riot The government responded by limiting immigration! Head Tax remained at $500! 1907, Gentleman's Agreement between Japan and Canada to limit Japanese immigration to 400/year (reduced to 150 in 1928)! July 1, 1923, federal government passed a law suspending Chinese immigration indefinitely (ended in 1947)