Professor Pamela Oliver Department of Sociology

Asian American History - Outline

Before World War II (1940s), there is very little Asian migration to the US, although there are always a few Asians in the US. Asian immigrants cannot become citizens, and immigration of Asians is tightly limited. From 1850 - 1882, most Asian immigrants are Chinese. 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act prohibits any Chinese immigration. Then Japanese immigrants predominate among Asians; 1908 Gentlemen's Agreement stops Japanese immigration. Then Pilipinos, Philippines a US colony after 1898; Philippine independence in 1934 curtails much of this immigration.

Hawaii.

Native Hawaiians are Polynesian, too few to work plantations. Chinese, Japanese labor beginning in 1830s; plantation society with small minority of whites. Pilipino labor after 1908. Ethnic differences and conflicts, but class struggle is central, Pidgen English is local language among the majority of workers. Today, Hawaii is predominantly Asian, with Japanese the largest group.

Mainland US.

Chinese migration begins 1848s, with Gold Rush. Largely cheap labor, overwhelmingly male. Migrants fleeing economic disaster and poverty, political turmoil. Small as part of US total, but high percentages of several western states. Explicit racism, hostile attacks, culminating in Chinese Exclusion Act 1882. Chinese here are largely isolated males, forced into the cities by hostility and violence.

Japanese emigration begins 1868, Meiji Restoration, younger sons (& their wives) urged to migrate as part of development strategy; generally well-educated & skilled as farmers. Often quite successful in US as farmers, business owners. Violence, hostility, explicit segregation laws. 1906 California passes law segregating Asians from whites in schools. 1913 California law denies right to own land to "persons ineligible for citizenship." 1920, 1923 amendments also prevent leasing or farming others' land. many forced into cities. 1924 absolute prohibition of immigration of "persons inelibigle for citizenship." 1920s, 1930s: Japanese American generation, speak English, identify as Americans, seek full civil rights, prove loyalty to US.

Philippines annexed to US in 1898. 400 years of Spanish colonialism left them a blend of European and Asian. Many migrated to Hawaii, some to mainland, where they often lived and intermarried with Mexicans. Smaller numbers than Chinese or Japanese.

A few Koreans migrated 1903-1920. A few Indians, who were mostly Sikhs also migrated; courts ruled that they were not "white" for citizenship purposes, even though they are racially "caucasion."

World War II and after: 1940-1950.

Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Internment of Japanese on West Coast, 2/3 citizens. War effort distinguishes evil Japanese from good Chinese. Chinese & other asians except Japanese finally permitted to become naturalized citizens. (Japanese so permitted after 1952.) Chinese revolution 1949 now makes Chinese bad, communists.

1965 Immigration Act. Favors family members and skilled professionals or workers, instead of previous national origins quotas which overwhelmingly favored Europeans. [note: this is the first time there is a quota on Mexican and other Latin American immigration.]

National origins of Asians in the US, 1960 and 1990. Percentages of all Asians in the US whose origins are from each country.

The myth of the "model minority":
Males average personal income as a percentage of white males' average income: Japanese 100%; Korean 82%; Chinese 68%; Filipino 62%; Black 68%; Mexican 71%. As of late 1980s.

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Questions or Comments? Email Oliver -at- ssc -dot- wisc -dot- edu. Last updated December 25, 2004 © University of Wisconsin.