Exclusion Act, Citizenship, and the American Dream: Early Asian American Experiences

The American Dream as a driving force for Asian immigrants, who endure hardships to pursue new possibilities in America.

Diverse origins: Immigrants came from China, Japan, Korea, India, and the Philippines.
Motivations: Fleeing poverty, war, oppression, seeking opportunity and adventure.

Antero Cabrera: A 12-year-old orphan from the Philippines who traveled to the U.S. in 1904. Arrived at the St. Louis World's Fair.
St. Louis World's Fair: Showcased technology and multicultural exhibits; The U.S. displaying itself as an imperial power. It had exhibits from over 50 countries dazzled $20$ million visitors.
Philippine exhibit: Represented the U.S.'s newly acquired colony.

U.S. defeated Spain in $1898$ and annexed colonies, including the Philippines.
U.S. aimed to "civilize" the native population through missionaries.
Antero worked as an interpreter and houseboy for anthropologist Albert Jenks.
Jenks' task: Bringing Filipinos to the fair for display, ranking them by civilization level with the Igorots at or near the bottom.
The Igorots: Considered "savages" by Jenks.

Igorot village replica: Antero lived in a living anthropological exhibit. They had to perform dances and sometimes even dog eating.
Evolutionary anthropology: Americans believed races were arrayed by skin color, with white people at the top.
Igorots' perspective: They aimed to earn money to improve their lives.
Antero's opportunities: He saw the possibility of making a living and gaining economic and social status. He eventually married and had a daughter.

Antero's stories inspired others in the Philippines to seek opportunities in America.
Immigrants maintained a positive image for those back home, reinforcing the American Dream.

Celebration of the completion of the transcontinental railroad and contributions of Chinese workers.

Lured by tales of riches in California during the Gold Rush of the $1850$ s.
Became a cheap labor source for the railroad, willing to do back-breaking work.
Recruitment: Chinese were recruited in large numbers and transported across the ocean.
Novel sight: Young men arriving with traditional queues (pigtails).

Grand ambition: To expand westward, connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Labor divisions: Irish immigrants worked westward, while Chinese worked eastward.
Working conditions: They were paid $1$ dollar a day, with food costs deducted. The rest of the money was sent home.
Chinese contribution: The Chinese became indispensable, comprising $80$ to $90$ % of the construction crew.
Difficult terrain: They worked through the Sierra Nevada, digging $15$ tunnels through solid granite by hand, using dynamite.
Winter dangers: Snow avalanches caused many fatalities.
Chinese associations: They recovered and repatriated the remains of deceased workers (around $1,200$ people; $20,000$ pounds of remains).

May 10, 1869: The two tracks met at Promontory Summit.
Exclusion from Recognition: Chinese workers were deliberately omitted from the famous photo immortalizing the event.

Decision: Whether to return to China or stay in America.
Many stayed: Some, like Connie Young Yu's great grandfather, saved money to start businesses.
Chinatown: Became the center of life for Chinese immigrants, mostly young male laborers.

Early life: Arrived from China at 14, learned English, and drove a milk wagon.
Unusual: Cut ties with his family and aimed to become Americanized.
Marriage: Married Mary Tape, who was raised as a white American girl after escaping a brothel.
Business: Joseph started a transportation business in Chinatown.
Route: Up Third Street, where they faced racist attacks.

Post-Civil War: Demand for new labor sources after slavery was outlawed.
Chinese workforce: The Chinese became essential in construction, manufacturing, and agriculture.
Threat perception: Idea that the Chinese were a threat to American laborers emerged.
Racist depictions: The Chinese were portrayed negatively in cartoons and associated with vices.
Anti-Chinese movement: The rallying cry was