Chinese Immigration to California

  • Opium Wars

    Britain attacks China after closure of the Port of Canton to all forein trade.
  • The Gold Rush

    The Gold Rush
    Discovery of gold in California brings prospectors from all over the world, including China.
  • Trascontinental Railroad Starts Construction

    Construction of the Transcontinental railroad begins; Chinese laborers shoulder a large part of the construction effort.
  • Transcontinental Raiload is finished

    Transcontinental Raiload is finished
    The Transcontinental railroad is completed.
  • The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

    The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
    The Chinese Exclusion Act bans Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. and denies them citizenship.
  • Geary Act

    The Geary Act extends the Chinese Exclusion Act another ten years.
  • United States vs. Wong Kim Ark

    Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese man who had been born in America, fought in court for his citizenship and won. His victory garunteed citizenship for any child born in America whose family was domiciled there.
  • Geary Act becomes indefinite

    The Chinese Exclusion Act is extended indefinitely.
  • 1906 San Franciso EarthQuake

    1906 San Franciso EarthQuake
    An earthquake wrecks much of San Franciso in 1906; many records are destroyed in the ensuing fires. Chinese immigrants use this to send people to America with fake identities claiming citizenship.
  • 1924 Immigration Act

    This act allows immigrants in, but only about 2% to 3% of the foreign poulation already in America are admitted a year.
  • 1943 Magnuson Act

    The Chinese Exclusion Act is repealed; some Chinese immigrants are allowed to come to the U.S. and allows some people already in the country to be naturalized.
  • 1965 Immigration Act

    The immigration Act dramtically changes immigration policies; the "quota" system is changed so that more people can come with less struggle.
  • Resolution of Regret

    Resolution of Regret
    U.S. House approves resolution of regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act authored by Representative Judy Chu.