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Gold Rush of 1849
With the news of the gold rush many Asian immigrants came to the U.S. There were somewhere between 20,000-25,000 immigrants. Their working conditions were less than ideal. Some went into the mining industry while others worked for the railroad. This was significant because it was the first major Asian immigration to the U.S. The key players were the immigrants and the different U.S. railroad companies. -
The Page Act of 1875
This act was passed to start limiting Asian immigration. It's specific purpose was to make it next to impossible for Asian women to enter the U.S. The goal was that if there weren't Asian women coming in, the men wouldn't be able to have families and therefore repopulate. It was significant because it was the beginning of trying to make Asian immigration illegal. The key players were the U.S. government and the Asian immigrants, specifically women. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese immigrants were being treated very badly and this led to Congress passing an act that banned them from entering the country. This was significant because the U.S. was outright saying that they did not want Chinese immigrants in their country. The key players in this were Congress, President Chester Arthur, and Chinese immigrants. -
Rock Springs Massacre
In Rock Spring Wyoming a group of white American citizens were angry that Chinese immigrants were taking away their jobs. In response a group of coal miners attacked and killed 28 Chinese workers and then 15 others were hurt. Not only did they attack people, they attacked homes, they burned many homes. This was significant because it was an outright act of physical violence aimed at Chinese workers. The key players were the white coal miners and the Chinese workers. -
Angel Island Opens
Angel Island's purpose was an entry port Asian immigrants. If the immigrants didn't have the right paperwork and documentation they were kept on the island. Some were only there for a few days, but some were there for years. It was more like a prison than anything else. It was significant because it was a way for the U.S. to decide whether or not to let these immigrants in. The key players were the government and the immigrants. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and forced us into World War ll. FDR made internment camps for Japanese Americans because people were suspicious they had helped plan the attack. This was significant because an Asian country had attacked the U.S. and the U.S. retaliated with making life harder for Japanese American citizens. The key players were the Japan and American governments and militaries, as well as Japanese American citizens. -
Patsy T. Mink
Patsy T. Mink was the first women of color along with the first Asian American women to have a position in Congress. She supported women, civil rights, education, children, and labor unions. She helped passed and write a few things in Congress. This was significant because she was a woman of color and of a race that wasn't originally American. The key players were Patsy T. Mink and Congress. -
Immigration and Nationality Act
This act got rid of immigration rules that were about ethnicity, race, and quota systems. This was significant because it allowed a lot of Asian immigrants to come in that had not previously been allowed. The main key player of this was the U.S. government specifically President Lyndon B. Johnson who signed the act. -
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week
The Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week began with President Jimmy Carter. Later President Bush made it a month. May is the designated month. This is significant because the U.S. was showing appreciation for Asian immigrants rather than the hatred they had been receiving. The key players were President Carter, Reagan, and Bush. -
Kamala D. Harris
Kamala D. Harris became the first in many ways in 2021. She was the first woman to serve as vice president, the first Black vice president, and first Asian American vice president. This was significant because of the aforementioned reasons and it was just another sign that the U.S. has made progress in regard to accepting Asian Americans. Kamala and the government were key players in the event.