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them from other jobs as well. The Chinatowns in large
cities across the nation became ghettoes of haven and
protection. Few foreign-born wives were permitted to join
their husbands in this country. There was one bright note
·decades. The Chinese immigrants were not in the
in these dismal years: a small and slowly emerging
professional field; it would take the next generation of
English-speaking Chinese Americans to fulfill this role. second generation.
But the appearance of an American-born second
generation was delayed for several reasons. The 1943 Congress repealed the exclusion laws. From
then on various laws enabled the Chinese to be reunited
In accordance with their own customs, Chinese with their families or find political refuge here. The new
immigrants had left their families behind. Few Chinese immigration act gave opportunity to other Chinese
families existed in America prior to the 1880's when the residing in various countries to emigrate here. Today's
Chinese Exclusion laws went into effect. From the 1850's Chinese-American population is no longer confined to
on, beginning with the Foreign Miner's Tax in 1852, the Cantonese-speaking, but includes Chinese from
.numerous California state laws and city ordinances were different regions, so that many dialects and customs are
enacted against them. When mining and railroad building represented.
took them to other western states, anti-Chinese laws
were also passed. As the railroads brought Americans The Lang celebration has special meaning for us of
West to settle, many Chinese went east to escape the Chinese descent. We have the opportunity to recognize,
hostile climate.
not only that Chinese labor helped to build the Southern
Pacific, but also to realize the importance of this railroad
From the mid-1870's into the 1880's, the anti-Chinese to the economic development of Southern California.
movement in the West grew more violent, as they We also have the opportunity to recognize the significant
appeared to the Caucasians as economic rivals. With role of Chinese labor in the developing West.
labor and politicians clamoring for action, Congress took
steps on the issue of Chinese immigration. Beginning in Today's Chinese Americans work in many occupations
1882 a series of Chinese Exclusion laws were enacted to
and professions. From the Chinatowns in large cities and
forbid further immigration of Chinese laborers.
small towns where Chinese storekeepers and laborers
had settled, their sons and daughters have_gone forth as
The exclusion laws had a widespread and dire effect on teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, mechanics, clerks,
the resident Chinese. Their numbers sharply declined etc. Americans of Chinese descent have been elected as
from 132,000 persons in 1882 to the lowest point of state officials, city councilmen and ·appointed as judges.
fewer than 62,000 in 1920 as deaths and departures Where once their grandfathers lived on the fringe of
were not replaced. The ensuing years saw the decline of American society, Chinese Americans can participate
Chinese in their diverse occupations; discrimination kept fully in American life.

Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society

Chinese laborers completing the track in
Southern Pacific Company photograph
Soledad Canyon, 1876.
Chinese laborers on a handcar in the
Tehachapi mountains.