Chinese Immigration to California

Opium Wars

Mar 18, 1839

Britain attacks China after closure of the Port of Canton to all forein trade.

The Gold Rush

Jan 24, 1848

Discovery of gold in California brings prospectors from all over the world, including China.

Trascontinental Railroad Starts Construction

Dec 9, 1863

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

Transcontinental Raiload is finished

May 10, 1869

The Transcontinental railroad is completed.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Mar 6, 1882

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

Geary Act

Mar 5, 1892

The Geary Act extends the Chinese Exclusion Act another ten years.

United States vs. Wong Kim Ark

Mar 28, 1898

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

Apr 26, 1902

The Chinese Exclusion Act is extended indefinitely.

1906 San Franciso EarthQuake

Apr 18, 1906

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

May 26, 1924

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

Dec 17, 1943

The Chinese Exclusion Act is repealed; some Chinese immigrants are allowed to come to the U.S. and allows some people already in the country to be naturalized.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

Oct 3, 1965

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

Resolution of Regret

Jan 8, 2012

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