The case of The People Vs. Hall in 1854, was about George Hall a white miner, who murdered Ling Sing a chinese miner, over a dispute that they had. It was disputed in the California Supreme Court in 1854, with the majority of opinion delivered by Chief Justice Hugh Murray with the concurrence of Justice Solomon Heydenfeldt. In the hearing, George hall appealed to the verdict, arguing that the 394th section of the Act Concerning Civil Cases provides that no Indian or Negro shall be allowed to testify as a witness in any action or åproceeding in which a white person is a party. The issue with this appeal was that the 394th section of the Act Concerning Civil Cases, did not included chinese or any other different ethnic background that was not listed in that section. For Chinese did not immigrated to America, until 1852, in which they were coming for work after the economic fall out of the Opium War of 1840.
George Hall argued however, that under the 14th section of the Act of April 16th, 1850, which reads, “No black or mulatto person, or Indian, shall be allowed to give evidence in favor of, or against a white man.” Should
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Stating that Chinese and all of whom who were deemed not as “Caucasian” will forever be perceived as forever foreigners. Not being able to understand America’s way of life. “Living in our community, recognizing no laws of this State, except through necessity, bringing with them their prejudices and national feuds, in which they indulge in open violation of law... “ By implying that Chinese are inferior by nature, since they only bring with them conflict, reaping rights that should not be given to them in the first place, and are incapable of understanding America’s Governing. Which nature has placed as “impassable difference” between the “superior” Caucasian race and the “inferior” Chinese
Republicans made a last attempt to embed Negro freedom in federal law; they tried but failed to strengthen. On March 31, after many disputes and bloodshed between Democrats and Republicans, whites and Negroes, the Supreme Court sat down to hear the Colfax case. Attorney General George Williams would argue the Colfax case, he promised “he was not going to lose this case without showing the court what he could do…he wasn’t going to lose it without a fight.” Williams reminded the court of the massacre that happened in Colfax and that though Beckwith’s indictment was imperfect it was valid. Williams had to demonstrate that the constitution authorized congress to enact section 6 of the Enforcement Act, which protects whites and blacks voters from conspiracies. Williams made sure to remind the court million of people’s lives depended on the case and if they decided in favor of this law it will do a lot to bring peace and quiet to the south. But when the Supreme Court finally reached a conclusion, they were unanimous in the decision that Beckwith’s indictments were fatally flawed. Chief Justice Waite in his draft dismissed every count and not one mentioned the massacre in it. It broke whatever force the Enforcement Act
The Plessy v Ferguson case would be overturned, ruling the “separate but equal” law to be unconstitutional. Melba Beals was in school that day and was sent home early with the warning to hurry and stay in groups. Even so, it had been decades since the passing of the Fourteenth Amendment. No much had changed. Melba’s teacher knew that this ruling would cause rage among the citizens of Little Rock and she was right.
How and why did white attitudes change (can you make any connections to the video and readings about the Chinese Exclusion Act)? Around1852 things began to change as more of the Chinese culture began to show in America. There was a Chinese Opera troop that began to tour mining towns. Their performances were not understandable to the American culture and a lot of old animosity between Chinese began to arise which was now on full display. Fights broke out between Chinese people because some were apart of different regions or clans that originated in their homeland. When this began to happen the way Americans viewed Chinese changed drastically. They were now viewed as people trying to invade the land. In the1850’s the first anti Chinese laws were established and even made them pay a special tax just for being Chinese. They were now viewed as outcast just as Native Americans and blacks were. They were not able to testify against whites and which gave way to attacks against Chinese. The main connections I was able to make between the two videos and readings is that the first Chinese laws established in the 1850s created a dominion effect of negativity that lead to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. There was now a green light for whites to do whatever they would like to Chinese without having to worry about repercussions. The Snake River Massacre of 1887 which was lead by Bruce Evans was just one of many acts of terror against Chinese after the Exclusion Act, in this particular incident Evans lead his group to hunt Chinese miners at campsites that resulted in many deaths of innocent Chinese (The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act). In states all over Chinese were being driven out or kilt. Even before the exclusion law act that was signed in 1882 there were several instances were Chinese were mistreated and even kilted. The Exclusion Act only elevated hate crimes against Chinese. Mr. Taylor from the House of General Garfield made a speech that argued against Chinese bill. One
Chinese immigrants were often discriminated against because they were easy to spot. They spoke a different language and, looked different physically. Irish immigrants, however, had an easier time blending in because they had physical features similar to Americans. They were not so easy to pick out in a crowd. Erika Lee says, “Immigrants have been excluded and restricted on the basis of their race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, moral standing, health, and political affiliation, among other factors.” (Lee, p. 39) Lee is saying that Americans would do anything to discriminate against immigrants. If immigrants stood out because of physical features they could more easily be targeted by society. Those immigrants that could better blend in were more likely to be included within a society. Racially those who were different were not wanted in America, but why? Americans loved the idea of having one transnational race. When immigrants of another race would arrive and start reproducing with people of the white American race, cultures started to mix, racial lines became blurred. Erika Lee says, “It provided a powerful framework, model, and set of tools to be used to understand and further racialize other threatening, excludable, and undesirable aliens.” (Lee, p. 42) In this quote Lee is stating how with the exclusion of the Chinese, this further pushed Americans to be more discriminatory against immigrants solely based on race. This
He refers to all the immigration groups in a judgmental way. He complains about the intelligence levels of the Italians, how dirty and deceitful the Jews are, and even the immaculate cleanliness of the Chinamen. Although he does possess quite a bit of bigotry that boarders on the line of prejudice when it comes to African Americans he recognizes that they are suffering from racism and he sympathizes with th...
The Strange Career of Jim Crow, by C. Van Woodward, traces the history of race relations in the United States from the mid and late nineteenth century through the twentieth century. In doing so Woodward brings to light significant aspects of Reconstruction that remain unknown to many today. He argues that the races were not as separate many people believe until the Jim Crow laws. To set up such an argument, Woodward first outlines the relationship between Southern and Northern whites, and African Americans during the nineteenth century. He then breaks down the details of the injustice brought about by the Jim Crow laws, and outlines the transformation in American society from discrimination to Civil Rights. Woodward’s argument is very persuasive because he uses specific evidence to support his opinions and to connect his ideas. Considering the time period in which the book and its editions were written, it should be praised for its insight into and analysis of the most important social issue in American history.
According to Lee, Erika, and Reason (2016), “The Chinese Exclusion Act ...barred Chinese laborers for a period of 10 years and allowed entry only to certain exempt classes (students, teachers, travelers, merchants, and diplomats” (p. 4). The Chinese immigrants were excluded from certain rules and laws like Blacks and other minority groups. Also, they were not permitted to request citizenship or settle in the United States. For decades, the Chinese laborers did not have legal rights to enter into the United States until the decision was overturned. Lee, Erika, and Reason noted, “Chinese activist turned their attention to opening up additional immigration categories within the confines of the restrictions…some 300,000 Chinese were admitted into the United States as returning residents and citizens” (p. 4). The activists fought for the rights of the Chinese people to overturn the decision for leaving and entering as pleased to the United
Lasting hatred from the civil war, and anger towards minorities because they took jobs in the north probably set the foundation for these laws, but it has become difficult to prove. In this essay, I will explain how the Separate but Equal Laws of twentieth century America crippled minorities of that time period forever. Separate but Equal doctrine existed long before the Supreme Court accepted it into law, and on multiple occasions it arose as an issue before then. In 1865, southern states passed laws called “Black Codes,” which created restrictions on the freed African Americans in the South. This became the start of legal segregation as juries couldn’t have African Americans, public schools became segregated, and African Americans had restrictions on testifying against majorities.
...judicial belief that it was proper to separate white and black people for the benefit of white people.
-Despite the already severe legal and social restrictions on Asian immigration, some European Americans felt that immigration should be forbidden altogether with a specific Asian Exclusion Act. In arguments which seem familiar to modern followers of the immigration debate, Asians were accused of taking white jobs and causing social
This discrimination initially began with the Naturalization Act of 1790, allowing free white-men of “good character” naturalization while excluding Native Americans, indentured servants, free Blacks, and Asians. In addition to extreme acts, the Chinese Exclusion Act, signed in 1882, had prohibited the Chinese from entering our country. Another example of the racism Asian-Americans faced occurred during World War II due to the war’s propaganda and the slurs that came about as a result of the war. The historical background of Asian-Americans and racism not only left scarring tendencies, but managed to transcend into modern society within a lower degree.
The People vs. Hall was a case of murder in 1854. A white man, George W. Hall, was blamed for a murder. A Chinese man was the witness of this murder. The Californian court, however, basing their decision on the belief that the Chinese are an inferior race, did not allow the Chinese man to testify against the murderer. The court stated that their decision was based on the Act of April 15th, 1850, which stated that "No black or mulatto person, or Indian, shall be allowed to give evidence in favor of, or against a white man." The outcome of this act let Hall walk away a free man.
They served subpoenas for documents that would prove the illegitimacy of Chinese citizenship. The Six Companies, which represented the interests of the community, fought back claiming “the subpoena was being used for the ‘obvious purpose of oppressing and intimidating the entire Chinese American community…” Delivering mass subpoenas proved jurisdictionally unsuccessful. Yet, the INS Chinese Confession Program in 1956 birthed a second opportunity to dispute Chinese legal
...aking travelers being kicked off of a train due to their behavior and because the conductor wrongly stereotyped them as Americans. He had a prejudice against Americans, which was verbally expressed.
In essence, he was shunned” (Hongo 4) by the white people who could not believe that he would attack their superior American ways. According to writers such as Frank Chin and the rest of the “Aiiieeeee!” group, the Americans have dictated Asian culture and created a perception as “nice and quiet” (Chin 1972, 18), “mama’s boys and crybabies” without “a man in all [the] males.” (Chin 1972, 24). This has become the belief of the preceding generations of Asian Americans and therefore manifested these stereotypes. Those authors who contest these “American made” stereotypes are said to betray the American culture and white power around them, and to be “rocking the boat” in a seemingly decent living situation.