History
Chinese immigrants have been coming to the United States since the mid-1800s in search of better economic opportunities, although there was initially very few. Most intended to make some money and promptly return to China and their families. Most of the Chinese immigrants were miners who came to the United States because of the Gold Rush. Then, during the 1940s, Chinese immigrants helped build the Central Pacific Railroad. As more Chinese immigrants came to the United State, less jobs were available for Chinese railroad workers and miners. Thus, unemployed Chinese immigrants were forced to go into other industries, such as the tobacco rolling and the textile industry. Furthermore, mob violence and discrimination forced the Chinese to move out to eastern cities, such New York.
A new community emerged on Mott Street, as Chinese businessmen began to open their stores. Groceries, tobacco shops, gambling dens, and jewelry stores began to flourish across the neighborhood, and Chinatown emerged. By the 1880s, there were around 800-1100 Chinese immigrants settling in the area. Chinatown is unlike other ethnic enclave, as Chinatown and its people are predominantly self-sufficient. Its community created many government associations and business, which supplied jobs, economic aid, social service and protection.
Mott St. General Store- Over 100 years old
Mott Street, Chinatown
Due to the rapid growth of the Chinese community, the United States enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943), limiting the growth of Chinatown. During the 1900s, there were only about 70-150 women among the 7,0000 Chinese immigrants. This unbalanced society caused an emergence of opium dens and prostitution, sparking more white hatred upon the Chinese. There was a large underground economy at this time, and there existed many undocumented Chinese laborers. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) was created during the early to mid-twentieth century. This was an internal structure that drafted a constitution, governed and imposed taxes for all New York Chinese and Chinatown.
Chinatown known as a “bachelor society”
Chinese raided by NYPD
When the Exclusion Act finally ended many more Chinese began to enter the country, due to an immigration quota given to China. Chinatown slowly grew through 1940-50 as more businesses began to flourish. Many of the industries and restaurants in the area were paying less than the minimum wage under the table. This created a lower economic status for those living in the area. When a Chinese quota was increased in 1968, Chinatown grew rapidly expanding into Little Italy.
Sources:
Waxman, Sarah. “The History of New York’s Chinatown.” NY.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
