AAS midterm
Absolutely—flashcards are perfect for this class. I’ll keep them clear, short, and test-focused so you can actually memorize fast.
📚 ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY 283 – FLASHCARDS
🧠 CORE CONCEPTS
Q: What is an empire?
A: A system where a powerful country controls other regions politically, economically, or militarily.
Q: What are push factors?
A: Reasons people leave (war, poverty, famine).
Q: What are pull factors?
A: Reasons people come (jobs, money, opportunity).
Q: Why was Hawai‘i important for Asian migration?
A: It was a gateway with plantation jobs and easier access to the U.S.
Q: What did labor contractors/brokers do?
A: Recruited and transported workers, often controlling wages.
🌏 MIGRATION
Q: What are the 5 main sending countries?
A: China, Japan, Philippines, Korea, India
⚖ RACISM & IDEOLOGY
Q: What is nativism?
A: Favoring native-born Americans over immigrants.
Q: What is racial Anglo-Saxonism?
A: Belief that white Anglo-Saxons are superior.
Q: What is anti-radicalism?
A: Fear of immigrants’ political ideas.
Q: What is anti-Catholicism?
A: Discrimination against Catholics.
🇨🇳 ANTI-CHINESE MOVEMENT
Q: What were the two phases?
A: 1) Economic fear 2) Legal exclusion
Q: What was the Union Label boycott?
A: Encouraged buying only from white workers.
🔥 VIOLENCE
Q: What was the Rock Springs Massacre (1885)?
A: White miners killed Chinese workers.
Q: What was the Turlock Incident (1921)?
A: Violence against Japanese workers.
⚖ KEY LAWS
Q: What did the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) do?
A: Banned Chinese immigration.
Q: What were Alien Land Laws?
A: Prevented Asians from owning land.
Q: What were anti-miscegenation laws?
A: Banned interracial marriage.
Q: What did the Cable Act (1922) do?
A: Women lost citizenship if they married non-citizens.
Q: What did the Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934) do?
A: Limited Filipino immigration.
⚖ COURT CASES
Q: What happened in People v. Hall (1854)?
A: Chinese could not testify against whites.
Q: What was Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886)?
A: Laws must be applied equally.
Q: What was Ozawa v. U.S. (1922)?
A: Japanese not considered white.
Q: What was U.S. v. Thind (1923)?
A: Indians not considered white.
Q: What was Wong Kim Ark about?
A: Birthright citizenship.
Q: Why is the 14th Amendment important?
A: Guarantees citizenship if born in the U.S.
🌎 EVENTS & GLOBAL CONTEXT
Q: What was the War of 1898?
A: U.S. gained overseas territories like the Philippines.
Q: Why is the Philippine-American War important?
A: Led to Filipino migration.
Q: Why did Koreans migrate?
A: Japanese invasion of Korea.
Q: What were the Insular Cases (1901)?
A: Said territories don’t get full rights.
🎥 FILMS & CULTURE
Q: What was the message of the 1904 World’s Fair?
A: White superiority and progress.
Q: What was the Philippine Reservation?
A: Displayed Filipinos as “primitive.”
Q: What challenges did Chinese railroad workers face?
A: Dangerous work, racism, low pay.
📖 TEXTBOOK (IMPORTANT PEOPLE)
Q: Who was Donaldina Cameron?
A: Helped Chinese women escape exploitation.
Q: Who was Sidney Gulick?
A: Supported Japanese Americans.
Q: Who was Harvey Guy?
A: Anti-Asian activist.
🧩 SOCIAL & ECONOMIC THEMES
Q: Why did anti-Asian groups use boycotts?
A: To economically harm Asian workers.
Q: Why did Chinese immigrants break exclusion laws?
A: Laws were unjust; they needed to survive.
Q: Effect of Alien Land Laws on Japanese Americans?
A: Used children’s names to own land.
✍ ESSAY THEMES
Q: Who supported Asian immigration?
A: Business owners (needed cheap labor).
Q: Who opposed it?
A: Workers and labor unions.
Q: What are examples of anti-Asian discrimination?
A: Exclusion laws, violence, segregation, land restrictions.
Q: How were Asians stereotyped?
A: Seen as inferior, exotic, or immoral.