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Treaty of Wangxia
1844 The U.S and China signed first treaty-free immigration between the two countries. The treaty was called the Treaty of Wangxia. -
The first Chinese immigrants
Gold is discovered in California. First wave of Chinese immigration to the U.S. -
1849
Two men and a woman were kidnapped and brought on the prison ship Eagle to become among the first Chinese in San Francisco. -
Hawaii Arrival
First group of Chinese contract laborers land in Hawaii. Over 20,000 Chinese arrive in California. Chinese first appear in California court. -
The Banning
Territorial law passes banning Chinese from voting in Washington State. -
Treaty Signing
Chinese in Hawaii establish their first community association in the islands. People v. Hall prohibits Chinese from giving testimony in court. Japan and U.S. sign first treaty. -
A School Opening
A school for Chinese children opens in San Francisco. -
Law Passing In California
California passes a law prohibiting the entry of Chinese and "Mongolians." Hamada Hikozo is sworn in as the first Japanese American citizen. -
Chinese Tax
San Francisco Chinese form a loose federation of six Chinese district associations. California imposes a $2.50 a month "police tax" on every Chinese. -
Territorial Law
Territorial law bans Chinese from testifying in court cases involving whites in Washington State. -
Territorial Law
Territorial law enacts poll tax for Chinese in Washington State. -
Railroad Hiring
Central Pacific Railroad Company recruits Chinese workers for construction of first transcontinental railroad. -
First Congressional Debate
234 Chinese in Washington State. First Congressional debate over the rights of Chinese in the U.S. Chinese miners in eastern Washington State outnumbers white miners nearly two to one. California makes illegal the importation of Chinese, Japanese and "Mongolian" women for prostitution. Chinese railroad workers sue Texas company for failure to pay workers. -
Violence In LA
Anti-Chinese violence persists in Los Angeles. Hawaii and Japan sign a friendship treaty. Construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Kalama to Tacoma, Washington begins, using nearly 2,000 Chinese laborers. -
Chinese Testimony
California's Civil Procedure Code repeals law barring Chinese court testimony. -
Page Law
Page Law prohibits the entry Chinese, Japanese and "Mongolian" prostitutes, contract laborers and felons. -
Unconstitutional Law
California's second constitution prohibits employment of Chinese by municipalities and corporations. California passes law requiring the removal of all Chinese outside of the city limits of all incorporated towns and cities, but the law is ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. circuit court. -
Chinese Immigration Treaty
3,186 Chinese in Washington State, or 4% of population. Total in U.S. is 105,465. U.S. and China sign treaty giving the U.S. the right to limit but "not absolutely prohibit" the immigration of Chinese. California Civil Code is amended to prohibit inter-racial marriages between a white person and a "Negro, Mulatto, or Mongolian." Filipinos are added to the list in 1933. The law is repealed in 1948. -
First Chinese Christian Church
King Kalakaua of Hawaii visits Japan during his world tour. Sit Moon becomes pastor of Hawaii's first Chinese Christian Church. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese Exclusion Act prohibits Chinese immigration to the U.S. By 1890, the ratio of men to women among Chinese Americans is thirty to one nationwide; not until 1940 would the ratio drop to less than two to one. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce allows Koreans to immigrate to the U.S. -
CCBA In New York
Northern Pacific Railroad transcontinental line is completed from Lake Superior, using nearly 17,000 Chinese throughout the entire span of the project. Chinese establish Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) in New York. -
CCBA In Vancouver
Joseph and Mary Tape sue San Francisco school board for right to enroll their daughter, Mamie in a public school. CCBA establishes Chinese language school in San Francisco. Establishment of Vancouver CCBA. Amendment of 1882 Chinese Exclusion Law requires a certificate as the sole permissible evidence for reentry. -
Japanese Contract Laborers Reach Hawaii
Large-scale immigration of Japanese contract laborers to Hawaii begins. One fifth are women. San Francisco builds segregated "Oriental School." Anti-Chinese violence in Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory. First group of Japanese contract laborers arrives in Hawaii. -
Anti-Chinese Riot In Cities
Anti-Chinese riots in Rock Springs, Wyoming; Issaquah, Seattle, and Tacoma, Washington. -
Alien Land Law Passed
Washington State passes the Alien Land Law barring Asians from owning land. Residents of Seattle, Tacoma, and other towns and cities in the West expel the Chinese. Chinese immigration to Hawaii ends. Yik Wo v. Hopkins declares that any law with unequal impact on different groups is discriminatory. -
Massacre In Oregon
First Walla Walla Chinatown is destroyed by fire. Massacre of 31 Chinese miners in Snake River, Oregon. -
Scott Law
Scott Law prohibits reentry of Chinese laborers who left the U.S. to visit families and homeland. The first Japanese farm laborers are brought to California. 50th Congress passes law to prohibit the entry of Chinese laborers to the U.S. and lasts for 20 years. Yick Wo v. Hopkins insures all people, regardless of race, equal treatment in the courts, government, and workplace. -
Washington Becomes A State
Washington becomes a state. First Japanese Nishi Hongwanji priest arrives in Hawaii. Chae Chan Ping v. U.S declares constitutionality of Chinese exclusion laws. -
Chinese Increases In Washington
3,260 Chinese living in Washington. -
The Geary Act
The Geary Act extends Chinese exclusion for another ten years, extends it again for another 10 years in 1902, and indefinitely extends it in 1904. -
Attempts To Expel Chinese
Japanese in San Francisco form the Japanese Shoemaker's League. Residents of southern California towns attempt to expel Chinese. -
HSPA Formed
Lem Moon Sing v. U.S. prevents district courts from reviewing Chinese habeas corpus petitions for landing in the U.S. Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association (HSPA) formed. -
Seattle Chinatown develops.
Seattle Chinatown develops. -
Exclusion Extended
Chinese exclusion extended an additional ten years. Without search warrants, police and immigration officials raid Boston's Chinatown, arresting almost 250 Chinese who allegedly did not have registration certificates.
(Capaa)
