Chinese Head-Tax: a Discriminatory Piece of Legislation Essay

In the early immigration, the Fraser River gold rush is perhaps the largest event. It was an overall positive event, and the Chinese were a large part of the business of the time. They were entrepreneurial and established themselves selling things that were important to the miners, importing goods, growing food, and building infrastructure. Stores similar to the Wong Toy & Co. one would’ve existed then. The head tax period was obviously dominated by the creation of the Chinese Head Tax, similar to other anti-Chinese taxes throughout the world. This was a major step backwards in Chinese Canadian history, and the backwards thinking of it all was best illustrated as they continued to immigrate along the very railroad they helped build. Canada

Around the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, British Columbia was in a period of economic explosion. Those who were willing to work hard could find many opportunities. At this time, gold was found in British Columbia and Canada became dependent on workers to finish making the transcontinental railway. Many lumbering, coal mining and fishing business were not experiencing enough growth to match the needs of the society. This portrayed Canada as a place of opportunity and settlement for Asians whose homelands were becoming overcrowded. Sadly, the early pioneer years were extremely difficult for Asian immigrants due to the extensive racism and barriers keeping them from full participation of the Canadian

The Canadian government perpetuated the stereotype and racism that all Chinese were used to; by removing their right to vote, even as full citizens they were unable to elect a political party that embodied their goals. Also in an attempt to strengthen the racist views the Canadian government segregated Oriental school children from Canadian school children, by only allowing those born in Canada to attend public school. This act of segregation draws a parallel to black segregation and truly shows how significant this hate had become. This hate destroyed many lives and set the acceptance of the Chinese heritage and culture back by decades; which later became important when we wished to create an alliance with China. In 1907 these racist views erupted into full-scale destruction as over 7000 Canadians pillaged “Chinatown”; breaking all the store windows while mass looting occurred. Even after this horrendous rampage the government continued its views of the Chinese and passed into legislation a Chinese Immigration Act in 1923. This act prevented all Chinese from entering the country, including those with family already within Canada. This act is shown to be significant to both Canadian and Chinese history as it demonstrates that Canada wished to thin their population of Chinese citizens. It also shows that many, if not all, of Canada and its citizens, shared these racist views. Overall these racist views continued on throughout the first half of the twentieth

In 1923, a 2nd Chinese immigration act was passed down. This act said that any Chinese people living in Canada had to register with the government. If they didn’t, they would be deported back to China.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923 was a terrible thing the Canadian parliament did that showed a bad side if Canada.The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923, known today as the Chinese Exclusion Act, was an act passed by the Parliament of Canada. The Chinese Exclusion Act effectively closed off Chinese immigration to Canada.The Chinese Exclusion Act was terrible because only Chinese people were singled out completely from entering on the basis of race. Secondly, the act was borderline unfair to every person of Chinese descent as it ruined family and economic life for people of Chinese descent living in canada at the time. Finally, it promoted racism in the Canadian government, as they all thought it was a resounding success, and did not think they were doing anything wrong.

In any case, financial misery in the 1870s raised hostile to Chinese assumption as white workers and lawmakers censured Chinese work for California's monetary troubles. After expanded savagery and segregation by hostile to Chinese developments, the United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, banning every single Chinese worker into the nation and extremely limiting vast scale Chinese migration. Just vendors, ambassadors, researchers and understudies, voyagers, and offspring of American residents were permitted. Incompletely because of China's interest with the Allied countries amid World War II, the U.S. canceled the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 permitting Chinese to wind up naturalized residents and allowed 105 Chinese to go into

Canada has continuously served as a home to immigrants and refugees from decade to decade harbouring people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The first set of immigrants to settle in the country came from Britain, the United States and from other nationalities mostly including immigrants from Europe who were either desperate to escape from religious or political turmoil or were simply attracted to Canada’s economic promise. Soon after the Canadian confederation in 1867, immigrants from Irish and Chinese backgrounds who occupied most of the country were used as workers and the demand for labourers to

Not only did the law ban Chinese immigration, it also intentionally disrupted family life and stunted community growth. Due to the separation of families caused by this act, most Chinese communities across Canada became a bachelor’s society. In 1941, there were 29,033 Chinese men in Canada, which accumulates to over 80 per cent of whom were married with wives and children who were left behind in China. Enduring this family separation, these “married bachelors” lived alone. The only exceptions to this Act were merchants, diplomats, and foreign students. Communities protested against this racist act in the form of a letter-writing campaign, but the motion was ignored. The amount of racism directed toward Chinese immigrants greatly affected their way of life in

When Canada first became a country, the immigration policies were very discriminatory. Specific races were wanted or unwanted, even though an attempt was being made to fill the west with settlers. Aboriginals were actually being pushed onto reserves and children into residential schools in an attempt to assimilate their ways of life into the mainstream Canadian culture. Chinese peoples who worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway had to pay a fairly large head tax to enter Canada which was meant to discourage them from moving here (http://mapleleafweb.com). The dislike of these people was not attempted to be hidden, in fact, Canada’s prime minister at one point said, “He has no British instincts or British feelings or aspirations, and therefore ought not to have a vote.” (CBC Archives), showing that anyone who did not fully accept and support the British culture would either not be treated as a true Canadian or would not be accepted into Canada. Canada’s policies have changed significantly, and the people who have immigrated to it shaped it into the place that exists now, a culturally diverse

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act, otherwise named the Immigration Act of 1882, was the first law passed by Congress restricting and controlling immigration, specifically targeting chinese people moving to the United States for economic opportunities in California. Most Americans supported it because the Chinese people were, supposedly, taking their jobs, were inhumane, and other reasons backed by the Anti-Chinese Movement. Many immigrants came to the United States because of economic reasons.

In his article, Christopher argue the process and influence of the “1885 Chinese Immigration Act” by talking about the history of Chinese migrants in Canada, how did Canada turn its back on those people, how they were treated in Canadian society and the senators who defense for Chinese Canadians. The author Christopher G. Anderson is a researcher who works Canada’s immigrant history, and the entrance of Chinese is a significant event during late 19th century until early 20th century. In this summary, I will talk about how did Canada betray those people and how did they fight back.

In the 1850s, many Chinese workers migrated to America by starting in the gold mines to agricultural jobs to factory work to garment industry. Chinese immigrants were instrumental in building the railroads in the West. As the Chinese laborers increased, so did the anti-Chinese sentiment among workers in the American economy. In result, passing legislation that limited future Chinese laborers in the United States. The Chinese Exclusion Act was formed from the unsettling of economic competition. Most Chinese labors sent money back to China to support their families as well as pay of loans to those who paid for their trip to America. The pressures left them to work for whatever wages they could get. However, white laborers required higher wages.

After World War Two, Canada’s immigration policy changed. From World War Two to the 1960s, Canada’s immigration policy was restrictive and the government still favoured European and American immigrants because they were more likely to adapt to the Canadian society. The government did try to limit the number of other immigrants. By 1947, the Chinese Exclusion Act was revoked by the federal government. This was a step in the right direction to make Canada’s immigration policy to be more reasonable. By 1962, Canada removed regulations on immigrants from Africa, Asia and other countries. Under Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada’s immigration policy became “colour-blind”

The baby boom and increase in immigration allowed for the extensive prosperity in Canada. The post-war experience allowed the federal government to remove ethical and racial barriers in immigration. Before 1961, more than 90% of immigrants were from Europe, however when racial and ethical means were dropped there was more variety in immigrants. In 1971, was a historical moment for Canada as it was the first time ever that most immigrants were not from Europe. In result, Canada was more multicultural than ever before. Immigration policies took an alteration in 1978 after the introduction of the Immigration Act. The Immigration Act was committed to

The first measure restricting immigration enacted by Congress was a law in 1862 forbidding American vessels to transport Chinese immigrants to Canada; 20 years later Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act excluding Chinese immigrants. In 1875, 1882, and 1892, acts passed by Congress provided for the examination of immigrants and for the exclusion from Canada of convicts, polygamists, prostitutes, persons suffering from loathsome or contagious diseases, and persons liable to become public charges. The Alien Contract Labor Laws of 1885, 1887, 1888, and 1891 prohibited the immigration to Canada of persons entering the country to work under contracts made before their arrival; professional actors, artists, singers, lecturers, educators, ministers, and personal and domestic servants were exempt from this provision. Alien skilled laborers, under these laws, were permitted to enter Canada to work in new industries. A diplomatic agreement made in 1907 by Canada and Japan provided that the Japanese government would not issue passports to Japanese laborers intending to enter Canada; under the terms of this agreement, Canada government refrained until 1924 from enacting laws excluding Japanese immigrants.