ASIAN AM 160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Page Act Of 1875, Know Nothing, Exclusion Crisis
13 Oct 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
1874 stock market crash in san francisco; inflated speculation way above market value of stocks. Bank of california closed august 1875; terrible 70s began. 1876 drought hit farmers hard and more headed into san francisco. Labor market tightened in 1869, completing of transcontinental railroad. By decade"s end over 30% unemployed in california. Wages for most trades cut, up to 15% Immigration 19th century u. s: period of unrestricted immigration. 1815-1915: over 30 million europeans to u. s. 1870: chinese 8. 6% of california population; 42% european immigrants. Anti-chinese violence: expression of racism and economic frustration. Working class people were the ones who were extremely anti-chinese. Workers tried to fight back against harsh conditions. Began with critique of big corporations and government support of corporate interests. Chinese exclusion as platform for consolidation of labor unions and growth of membership. Powerful force in labor unions were irish: bottom of racial hierarchy of european immigrants.
