On Gold Mountain Essay Example

as they demonstrated a strong work ethic and demanded minimal compensation.

At first, Chinese workers in the U.S. were handled fairly and respectfully. Nonetheless, as gold supplies began to dwindle, bias against them quickly escalated. The seriousness of this problem required the engagement of the U.S federal government which resulted in the enactment of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. This act marked a singular event where a particular group was deemed undesirable by U.S authorities who then stopped granting citizenship to those from China and even planned to suspend their immigration for ten years.

The legislation specified that Chinese laborers who relocated to the U.S. prior to November 17, 1880 were exempted. Additionally, an identification system was established for these authentic immigrants under this law. Should they choose to leave the U.S., they were required to obtain a return certificate facilitating their re-admission into the country. The legitimacy of this certificate was verified upon their arrival by cross-referencing it with permanent identification records maintained by the federal government. Entry was granted for those whose certificates corresponded with the records; conversely, if there were inconsistencies in their documents, entry was refused. Nonetheless, immigration rights of particular groups like businessmen, diplomats and other non-labor categories remained unaffected by this act.

The referenced persons belonged to an elite or exempted category. It was the responsibility of Chinese officials to confirm the identities of immigrants from this class, requiring them to provide detailed certificates in English attesting their status. This certificate became a vital evidence that permitted their entry into the country. On Gold Mountain exemplifies the potency of the Exclusion Act. Around 40,000 Chinese arrived

in California in 1882 but stricter immigration regulations caused a drastic decline in these numbers - down to only 26 within six years.

The tale of Fong See and his family portrays their struggles with Chinese immigration and exclusion issues. On Gold Mountain offers a demonstration of the hardship faced by Chinese immigrants in traveling and re-entering the United States owing to the imposed constraints. These rigorous limitations by the U.S government compelled the Chinese to forge merchant documents to stay in America. Fong See’s family was no exception in this, as he collaborated with ten male members of his family so they could assert their status as “merchants”.

To make his business name more American-friendly, he renamed it from its original to "Fong Suie On," signifying that the Fong family had been engaged in trade for twenty years. However, this didn't necessarily streamline his family's immigration process. In 1902, Fong See, along with his family, returned to San Francisco from China. With two women's underwear businesses and an auction business he had established, he sailed through the immigration process effortlessly. His family included a Caucasian American wife and three children, reinforcing the perception that Fong was not just a successful merchant, but a wealthy one too.

Even though Fong See's two brothers were also recognized as "merchants", they did not experience the same prosperity. They endured detainment, inspection, and disgrace. Fong Quong was held in captivity for 54 days before finally being released. This underscores the hardships faced by Chinese men seeking to enter the United States, despite having legitimate papers. The adversities undergone by Fong See's family underscore the severity

of the Exclusion Act and its rigorous implementation by the U.S government. A substantial influx of Chinese immigrants to California eventually led to the establishment of neighborhoods referred to as Chinatowns.

In the early 20th century, American society viewed Chinatowns as unethical, filthy, and violent. These areas developed into tightly-knit, isolated communities that significantly impeded Chinese integration into American society at the time. San Francisco's Chinatown was notorious for its gambling centers and by 1885 boasted around 70 brothels. Elements like these contributed to crafting a negative perception of Chinatown among Americans. Nonetheless, in retrospect, it is evident that these Chinatowns also functioned as economic centres providing opportunities for immigrants.

The main findings from a study of microbusiness entrepreneurship within immigrant communities like Chinatowns indicate that ethnic enterprises have thrived due to their ability to leverage the power of existing cultural and socioeconomic connections. In areas where there was a significant Chinese population, their societal groups dominated the most profitable business sectors, such as laundromats or food services. On Gold Mountain offers instances of U.S. politicians' derogatory depiction of Chinatowns.

Continual complaints from politicians and city officials marred the image of Chinatowns, repeatedly referring to them as unsanitary and dangerous. They continued this stereotype by labeling the Chinese residents as unclean, heavy drinkers, who existed on minimal funds. These anti-Chinese sentiments were widespread and clear in the American media during the era of the Exclusion Act. The persistent nature of these prejudiced viewpoints eventually convinced Fong See and his family that considering a relocation to a Chinatown would mean regression. As a prosperous businessperson, Fong See was adverse to aligning himself with

a location that was perceived so negatively.

Despite previously residing in a Chinatown amongst family, Fong See chose not to continue this living arrangement when he moved to Los Angeles. The overwhelmingly negative portrayal of Chinese districts deterred him from even considering them as potential places to live, largely due to the severe bias they faced. Numerous unfounded assertions concerning California's Chinatowns were disseminated by the media. For example, the Grass Value National made claims about every Californian Chinatown being primarily a center for red-light activities, foul smells, and crime. However, it failed to acknowledge that these circumstances were equally prevalent in other towns throughout California at the time. Both Caucasians and Chinese participated in opium smoking, patronizing brothels and gambling across all Californian towns. Yet, there was a consistent media focus on highlighting these activities solely within the boundaries of Chinatowns - clearly demonstrating their anti-Chinese bias. Unlike most immigrants who lacked insider knowledge of life inside a Chinatown due to cultural differences, Fong See leveraged his understanding born out of his cultural heritage for financial advantage.

Instead of establishing conventional businesses such as a chop suey restaurant, grocery store or meat shop targeted at his own ethnic group, he followed an unorthodox path. He noticed the prevalent existence of prostitution in both Chinese and certain Caucasian communities and started creating lingerie specifically for sex workers. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, numerous women who arrived in California were trafficked or handed over to agents to work as prostitutes in brothels. It's estimated that about 61% of Chinese women residing in California during this era were engaged in sex trade.