1849-1882: The first wave
The first large wave of Chinese immigration was during, and after the California gold rush. At first many immigrants moved to California to acquire gold, and then move back to China (California). Eventually, though, as gold became scarcer, the California legislature enacted a bill that taxed foreign miners a fee every month of $20. This legislature hints at the future discrimination that many Chinese immigrants would later have to face like the Chinese Exclusion Act. It also caused many Chinese immigrants to stop prospecting and look for work else where though they were quite limited for the immigration group for they were given jobs that were unfit for Americans, for instances the railroad. The transcontinental rail road which Chinese immigrants began building after Irish immigrants had a labor dispute when the Chinese were brought in as strike scabs, workers to replace strikers (Kiang). Chinese immigrants were then hired to build the railroad (American). The Chinese immigrants slowly began replacing the Caucasian workers on the railroad leading to racial prejudice among the workers and harassment (American). In addition to laborers, Chinese immigrants acted as merchants and entrepreneurs respectively providing other immigrants with goods and as launderers, a job that required little skill and little English.
1882-1965: The second wave
Upon the passing of the Chinese Exclusion act in 1882, Chinese immigration into the U.S. filtered down to a demographic of primarily merchants, diplomats, and students. The Chinese Exclusion Act, which implemented a halt on immigration, and essentially limited immigrant activity to Chinatowns, and other Chinese communities because of the oppression and discrimination from American society that was concurrent with the Act. Despite the latter, the Chinese population in America largely held onto their native traditions and customs (Wang). Like any immigrant force, the Exclusion Act did not mean immigration stopped but there was an increase in illegal manners of acquire a visa or residency (Chin). From this the use of paper fathers arose, paper fathers refers to a Chinese American citizen that would Chinese children to him "to help them migrate" to America, though not always illegally (Kiang).
Chinatowns
Chinatowns all over the country act as primary settlement areas for Chinese immigrants as well as an area for Chinese culture to thrive in America. Many first generation immigrants stay in Chinatown and don’t leave due to the language barrier that prevents them from communicating with people outside of Chinatown as well as the large community Chinatown creates within the area. However for many of the younger generations, Chinatown is a good starter home but unlike older generations, they will eventually "move out" into other neighborhood after becoming educated and settled into American culture (Chin).
Chinatown also allows Chinese immigrants to attempt to gain political power so that their voices can be heard. It also helps them prevent from being discriminated against, which happened in 1903 when over 300 people were rounded up by police at a funeral service that the U.S. government knew "illegal immigrants" would be at (Kiang). But political power is still very low in this area. This kind of discrimination was common, and many Chinese immigrants were discriminated against due to their ethnicity.
Chinatown also allows Chinese immigrants to attempt to gain political power so that their voices can be heard. It also helps them prevent from being discriminated against, which happened in 1903 when over 300 people were rounded up by police at a funeral service that the U.S. government knew "illegal immigrants" would be at (Kiang). But political power is still very low in this area. This kind of discrimination was common, and many Chinese immigrants were discriminated against due to their ethnicity.
Ping on Alley
Ping On alley is the first place that Chinese immigrants "settled in Boston" (Chinsen). The people who first settled there were mostly workers. Over time Ping On alley filled with more Chinese immigrants, and is now located in the heart of Chinatown. Chinese immigrants formed this community because they were following family members to the U.S., trying to gain political power, and making a community where they can communicate.