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From the late nineteenth century through the end of World War II, Asian immigration underwent dramatic changes for developing international networks, the spread of capitalism, and the rise of economic. The author, Shelly Sang Hee discusses five different Asian ethnic group that migrated to the United States, which are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Filipino. The reasons for leaving varied from better education, better job opportunities, political persecution, and religious motivation.

The Chinese immigrants are the first Asians to come to the United States during the nineteenth century. They consisted of elite merchant groups, landless peasants, or sojourners and permanent settlers. To make it overseas they mostly took the route from South East Asian ports to Hawaii. In January 1852, the first shipment contained 175 Chinese arrived from Fujian province. They had five-year contracts that would pay $3 each month plus passage money, food, clothing, and lodging. After their job contracts were over, they moved past Hawaii in to main land. Most males came by ship to Hawaii as plantation workers who did sugar plantation. The Chinese had made sugar soon become Hawaii’s chief export. Other jobs that were included in this market were farmers, craftsmen, and plantation laborers. Regardless of the reasons most Chinese during their stay in Hawaii or West Coast were coerced into becoming coolies. They became the new slaves of America and were treated horrible amongst their owners. The coolie trade was a successful moneymaking and essential for colonial development for which is why it continued even after African Slavery was “phased out.”

Initially Japanese weren’t allow to leave the country, however due to expeditions that took place...

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...0’s. Last but not least, West Coast migrants who came in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. Most immigrations were male, either from working class or students who sought for opportunities. During that time, America was short on labor workers since other Asian groups had forbade of labor contract, Filipinos were the new target group.

From late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries, five ethnics group emigrated to America with hopes that their lives will be improved. They escaped tough conditions back home, and was sold to indentured servants before even getting on the ship. There were also brutal treats and decisions were passed from the main ethnic countries in response to the treatment of Asians in America. I thought I knew a lot about Asians’ history since I was born and raised there. It turns out that I have missed out a lot about the cruel past of Asian in America.