How did Chinese Immigrants contribute to the U.S.?

Interactive Transcript

spk_0 Hello and welcome to my podcast. I'm Merle in Vante. Today we will talk about how the Chinese

spk_0 contributed to the United States. I'm here to inform you about one of the groups of people

spk_0 not discussed in American history. The Chinese immigrants mostly settled in California and the

spk_0 States west of the Rocky Mountains. It was in the 1850s when Chinese immigrants

spk_0 sought opportunity to improve their life. During the California Gold Rush, a large group of Chinese

spk_0 immigrants came in hope of becoming rich with gold. About 40,000 Chinese immigrants arrived in

spk_0 California. Many of the Chinese that arrived in California to work in the gold mines had to stay

spk_0 because they were not able to go back home. When work on the transcontinental railroad was

spk_0 starting the Union or Central Pacific were willing to hire the Chinese because of the prejudice

spk_0 of the time. Once they realized it was hard to recruit and keep railroad workers, the central

spk_0 Pacific had no choice but to hire Chinese workers. During the time frame, they experienced

spk_0 discrimination. They were subject to racial slurs from workers and subject to certain policies

spk_0 placed by the companies. Other workers did not have the face. An example would be the Chinese

spk_0 receiving lower wages than the white workers. The Chinese had found their own shelter in food

spk_0 unlike the white workers that were provided with both food and shelter. In 1864, the Chinese workers

spk_0 were only paid $26 a month and they worked six days a week. According to Immigration Direct,

spk_0 these workers were willing to lay tracks in dangerous areas for extremely low pay and were also

spk_0 viewed as peaceful and submissive. They proved themselves to be efficient, labors and the generally

spk_0 balanced diets they followed made them healthier than their Irish co-workers.

spk_0 Chinese made a long lasting contributions to our country. They aren't recognized as much as

spk_0 they should be. The Chinese contributions have not been traditionally taught because they weren't

spk_0 seen as important to include. In American history class, we discuss mostly the contributions of Americans.

spk_0 Now what other immigrants have been attributed to the country. There are other groups of people

spk_0 who contributed to the country and should be taught in American history. One of them being the Chinese

spk_0 immigrants. The Chinese worked in wet meals and shoe industries. One fourth of California's

spk_0 labor force was provided by the Chinese. Did you know that Chinese immigrants were some of the

spk_0 first to move to the California Goldfields and use Western state resources that provided

spk_0 products for the American society to use? Chinese harvesting and planting

spk_0 helped increase the supply of fruit and vegetables. They converted the land they settled on into

spk_0 rich farmland. One of the biggest contributions of the Chinese was the Transcontinental Railroad,

spk_0 which many of you know linked the United States from east to west. The American west was

spk_0 open to more rapid development and the travel time of the 3,000 mile journey across the United States

spk_0 was cut from months to less than a week. About 90% of the workers of the Transcontinental Railroad

spk_0 were Chinese. Immigration directs stated without the work of these immigrants,

spk_0 the Transcontinental Railroad might have never been built. In turn, the west would have remained

spk_0 difficult to settle and might have not become as developed and populated as it is today.

spk_0 It is important to know the contributions that everyone has made for the country.

spk_0 It's like telling only one part of the story if you don't include other people's contributions.

spk_0 The Chinese not only did they help the west develop but they brought with them culture,

spk_0 customs, language and social institutions to America. The Chinese helped the west side of the

spk_0 country produce their own products and wouldn't have to depend on the east for the products.

spk_0 Charles Broker hired Chinese immigrants because of the many white men not willing to work on the

spk_0 railroads. Approximately 50,000 Chinese immigrants living on the west side arrived during the

spk_0 gold rush. Immigration directs stated these immigrants based particularly poor working conditions

spk_0 and fierce discrimination but their efforts were crucial to the construction of the railroads

spk_0 and to the full development of the west.

spk_0 Although the Chinese faced many challenges, they managed to continue working hard and hope of becoming

spk_0 of being able to provide further. Further families, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed on

spk_0 May 10, 1869. About 15,000 Chinese workers were employed by the Central Pacific Railroad Company

spk_0 to work on it. Some of those workers would have to live in underground tunnels and many of them died

spk_0 in accidents. Some of the Chinese workers died in abolences when working up in the mountains.

spk_0 Even after contributing to the construction of the railroads, the state of California placed laws

spk_0 that restricted Chinese immigrants. The laws prevented them from being able to go and becoming

spk_0 naturalized citizens. Chinese children were segregated in school. We're often taught about the

spk_0 laws restricting African American rights but we aren't taught about the Chinese immigrants and how

spk_0 they were restricted. We don't talk much about the Chinese immigrants and how they helped America

spk_0 become the country it is today. There were many things they contributed to our country and still

spk_0 continue to contribute that we do not know much about because it isn't talked about.

spk_0 I hope you enjoyed my podcast and learned something new today. Thank you for your time.

How did Chinese Immigrants contribute to the U.S.?

Interactive Transcript

Topics Covered

Related Episodes

If you're here to raise consciousness on this planet... (Akashic Records Workshop coming up!)

Ep. 309 – Love Binds All Things: What We Can Do to Help the World with Prof. Rajiv S. Joshi

People on TikTok BEGGING for Money is Unhinged (Sad Fishing for Money)

Justin Martin Wrestles with Phil's Advice on Fatherhood

Share Episode