Chinese Exclusion & Anti-Chinese Discrimination Missing In History Chinese American Citizens Alliance Portland Lodge Oregon Commission on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs Presented to: Oregon Senate Committee on Education & Workforce Development January 16, 2014
Chinese Americans virtually absent from our textbooks Pvt. Joseph Pierce (born in Canton, China) served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Victor Schoon, a Chinese American B17 pilot, flew combat missions during WWII.
Hazel Ying Lee, Oregonian WWII Aviator
Chinese Americans contributed significantly to Oregon s historical development Economy Major manual labor workforce Consumers purchasing from Oregon business owners Number of Miners in Eastern Oregon, 1880 Chinese 1605 (74%) Other 566
Chinese Americans contributed significantly to Oregon s historical development Economy Major manual labor workforce Consumers purchasing from Oregon business owners Industry Mining, railroads, canneries, timber, irrigation, agriculture, service sectors Number of Railroad Workers Oregon, 1868-1884 Chinese 15,000 (60%) Other 10,000
Helping develop the early timber industry, Chinese laborers shoveled earth, blasted rock, dug ditches, and laid railroad tracks sometimes deadly work. O&C Railroad near Roseburg, OR
Chinese Americans contributed significantly to Oregon s historical development State (Territory) revenue Local government revenue
12,000 10,000 8,000 Chinese Population in Oregon 1870-1890 Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) 9,510 9,540 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 3,330 1870 1880 1890 Chinese centered in Jacksonville, John Day, Astoria, Baker City, and Portland.
Denied Rights: Property No Chinaman shall ever hold any real estate or mining claim, or work any mining claim therein. Oregon Constitution Article XV, section 8
Denied Rights: Citizenship I deny, therefore, that the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States requires us to admit to naturalization Chinese, or cannibals, or Indians, or anybody, except as in our judgment their admission to political rights may comport with the best interest of the nation. U.S. Senator George Williams (Oregon), 1870 41st Congress, 2nd Session; later Attorney General of the United States
Resentment & fear of Chinese fomented by Economic struggles Labor Politics Racism Newspaper industry
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act Prohibited Chinese from immigrating to the U.S. Prohibited Chinese from becoming naturalized U.S. citizens First time ever U.S. barred a specific ethnic group from immigration
Preamble. Whereas, in the opinion of the Government of the United States the coming of Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of certain localities within the territory thereof
Preamble. Whereas, in the opinion of the Government of the United States the coming of Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of certain localities within the territory thereof Therefore, the coming of Chinese laborers to the U.S is hereby suspended; it shall not be lawful for any Chinese laborer to come [to] the United States.
Impacts and Consequences Hip! Hurrah! The White Man is on Top. Legitimized anti-chinese prejudices and policies Intensified violence riots, mob, lynchings, vigilante and official round-ups to drive the Chinese out 34 Chinese miners massacred at Hells Canyon Cut Chinese population in half, froze its growth
Further Consequences of the Exclusion Laws Prospective Chinese immigrants detained and interrogated at Angel Island Immigration Station. Some were held many months in prisonlike conditions. European immigrants arriving through Ellis Island (New York) did not share this kind of discrimination.
The 1882 Project is about American founding principles: Equality, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness; Civil Rights, and how the Rule of Law that can be so wrong; The strength of American poli;cal ins;tu;ons can admit wrong Honoring our forebears by Recognizing their struggles Affirming their choices and sacrifices Educa;ng the public and ourselves their stories are told Keeping the lessons of 1882 alive
Personal Stories Support
Please support awareness and inclusion: Recognize the impacts of Chinese Exclusion Laws and contributions of Chinese Americans in Oregon and the U.S. 1. Designate Remember 1882 day on State Calendar, recommended: May 10 Completion of first transcontinental RR Dec 17 Repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Laws 2. Professional development for teachers 3. Curriculum development
Chinese Exclusion & Anti-Chinese Discrimination Missing In History Chinese American Citizens Alliance Portland Lodge Oregon Commission on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs Presented to: Oregon Senate Committee on Education & Workforce Development January 16, 2014