Migration and its Pain

790 Words2 Pages

The mass migrations of Oklahomans are like many other migrations of the United States with the same target, to find a better work. From African –American migration during the post-Civil War and World War II, to the Chinese immigration, created and affected many of these migrants, resulting the change and attitude of the economy and society, and the American Dream. The Chinese came to the U.S. during the beginning of the 19th century. The Chinese first came to work on the construction of the American transcontinental railroad. Soon after the construction was completed, they were unemployed and headed to California, to join the gold rush. Building tensions created a heavy question about the Chinese creating the new China in the U.S. The fear also extended from job competitiveness, between the Irish and the Chinese, both groups looking for cheap labor. The anti-Chinese supporters or nativists started to protest, mainly in San Francisco. Led by Denis Kearny, an Irish immigrant who joined the Workingman’s Party of California, quoted on the Indianapolis “Times” of the 28th of February 1878, “California must be all American or all Chinese. We are resolved that it shall be American, and are prepared to make it so. May we not rely upon your sympathy and assistance?” Feeling the heavy pressure from the west, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act to prohibit all immigration of Chinese labors. This ended the rift of the Chinese people, until it was repealed by the Magnuson Act in 1943. Even after the act was passed, people still negatively saw them as “yellow monkeys” and racially separating them from society. In our history of the United States, the country which is said to be the land of the free, has broken many civil rights. One o... ... middle of paper ... ...ese children would soon or generated a mass population growth to reproduction, with many places to work with cheap labor. Mass migrations focused mainly on new opportunities to restart or have a better life somewhere else. Just like many characters from the “Grapes of Wrath”, the Oakies went west to look for better work and living conditions where jobs could be stable and for now able to live with. Although for the immigrants it may like haven, but usually and sadly, there is trouble in the society or the economy thanks to the immigrants. But one thing is for sure, is that thanks to them, we wouldn’t be here in the position as one of the biggest and strongest economy in the world. Works Cited http://www.hr.wa.gov/COMPCLASS/COMPENSATION/Pages/FairLaborStandardsAct(FLSA).aspx http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5154/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2760060/

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