Early Emigration & Immigration: Three Waves of Asian Immigration to the US

Early Emigration & Immigration (Weeks 2-4)

Three Waves of Asian Immigration to the US

  • Timeframe: 1850-1924

    • Nature: Labor migration

    • Five major groups in order:

    1. Chinese

    2. Japanese

    3. Koreans

    4. South Asians (Punjabis)

    5. Filipinos

    • Processes: Punctuated by exclusion and replacement

    • Exclusion: E.g., "Chinese Exclusion Act"

    • Economic Role: Served as a source of cheap labor for booming US economy

    • Demographics: Mostly young, male workers, referred to as "sojourners"

  • Timeframe: 1943-1965

    • Characteristics: Small national quotas + "war brides" and political refugees

    • Result: Permanent settlers

    • Demographics: More women than men (spouses of US citizens/residents and political asylum seekers from Communist regimes, particularly PRC)

    • Legal Framework: US immigration law set up a national border system

    • Demographics Note: Mostly Asian women married to US soldiers immigrated

  • Timeframe: 1965-present

    • Characteristics: No race-based restrictions

    • Eligibility: Determined by family ties, occupations, and "refugees" status

    • Demographics: Ethnically diverse, educated, professionals, and permanent settlers

    • Significance: 1965 law eliminated race-nation-based criteria for immigration; family ties prioritized

Major Groups During the First Wave of Asian Immigration

  • Chinese

  • Japanese

    • Historical Context: Replacement after the Chinese Exclusion Act

    • Economic Role: Needed cheap labor

  • Koreans

    • Migration: Mostly to Hawaii in smaller waves

  • South Asians

    • Prominence: Particularly Punjabis, around the same number as Koreans

  • Filipinos

    • Migration Path: First to Hawaii, then to the mainland after 1924 when Japanese exclusion occurred

    • Economic Roles: Essentially performed the same jobs as Japanese immigrants before their exclusion

Important Factors in Setting the Migration Pattern

  • US Domestic Factors

    • Labor Demand: High demand for Asian cheap labor

    • Opportunities: Job opportunities and higher wages from Asian perspective

    • Sectors: Railroad, mining, agriculture

    • Cultural Perception: Image of the US as a land of opportunities, especially for Koreans, South Asians, and Filipinos

  • Historical Context (Imperialism):

    • Influence of Colonialism:

    • Europeans colonized Asia; locals fled to America from oppressive colonial regimes

    • Impact on the composition, size, and duration of migration flows

  • Exclusionist Immigration Policies:

    • Racism & Nativism: Intertwined with broader social and political issues

    • Tied to race relations, labor demand, union organization, and formation of national identity

  • International Context/Geopolitics:

    • Transpacific Nexus: Emergence of transpacific capitalist economics

    • Interdependent economic relations facilitating the movement of capital, goods, and labor

    • Motivation behind US commercial and missionary expansion in Asia

  • Mass Migration in History: Asian labor migration as one stream of the broader great migration in US history, with parallels to other ethnic groups (Italians, Irish, Jews, Africans)

  • Cultural and Economic Changes in China:

    • Adaptation of Western currency post-Opium War; shift in the Chinese economy towards international trade

    • Push Factors: Displacement, population growth (surplus of labor), political turmoil, oppression, and natural disasters

Characteristics of Chinese Migration (1850-1882)

  • Origins:

    • Geographic Center: Coastal regions of Guangdong Province

    • Dialect Groups: Sam Yup, Sze Yup, Heungshan—ethnically and culturally diverse

  • Migration Motivation: Long tradition of migration dating back to the Ming Dynasty, fostering a culture of emigration

    • The Qing Dynasty had less control over the south, leading to more migration opportunities

  • Canton Port:

    • Initial contact point for foreign commerce; restrictive trade policy known as the Canton System (1757-1842)

    • First area to experience economic changes, moving towards a money-based economy

  • Opium Wars and Their Impact:

    • First Opium War (1839-1842); resulted in a loss of sovereignty

    • Second Opium War (1856-1860) followed by considerable turmoil (Taiping Rebellion 1850-1864)

  • Emigrant Characteristics:

    • Young, male bachelors with a farming/rural background

    • Sojourner mentality: temporary work with a goal to gain enough money to support families back home

    • Chinese economy was industrializing, increasing displacement and unemployment

  • Chain Migration:

    • Successful immigrant stories encouraged more migration; determination exhibited by these immigrants despite hardship

    • Small groups of merchants emerged as community leaders, viewing commercial potential in America

Significance of the Gold Rush:

  • The Gold Rush lured Chinese immigrants into the US

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

  • Legislation: Ended large-scale labor migration

    • Exceptions: Merchants, students, and pastors/priest

    • Denied naturalization rights to foreign-born Chinese, setting a legal precedent for subsequent Asian exclusion

  • Multi-Country Impact: Other countries (Australia, Canada) adopted similar exclusion policies

  • Long-Term Effects: Led to a reorientation of Chinese immigrant identity from sojourners to permanent settlers post-exclusion

Japanese Migration (1885 - 1924)

State Intervention & Control

  • Government Involvement:

    • 1885: A special treaty with Hawaii initiated the migration of government-sponsored contract workers due to labor shortages

Key Factors Leading to Migration

  • Economic Crisis in Japan:

    • Deflation policy led to rural unrest; many farmers sought opportunities abroad, particularly in Hawaii

  • Initial Emigration Patterns:

    • Geographic centers included Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka; political favoritism influenced migration as Japan had leverage, unlike other Asian countries

Phases of Japanese Migration

  • Phase 1: Labor Migration (1885-1907)

    • Contract labor in Hawaii vs. self-financed immigrants

    • Pre- vs. post-1900 immigrants differed significantly in socioeconomic status

  • Phase 2: Family Migration (1908-1924)

    • Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907-1908) allowed families to migrate

    • Emergence of "picture brides" and a growing American-born generation (Nisei)

    • Shift from sojourner mentality to a permanent settler identity

Characteristics of Japanese Immigrants

  • Generally younger male bachelors, more educated than Chinese immigrants, and included a sizable number of merchants and intellectuals

Korean Migration (1903-1905, 1910-1920)

Factors Influencing Migration Volume

  • Geopolitical Context:

    • Japanese imperialism significantly limited Korean migration patterns; geopolitical tensions reduced migratory flow

  • Recruitment by American Missionaries:

    • Harnessed Australian and American interests to recruit workers for Hawaiian plantations

South Asian (Punjabi Sikh) Migration (1904-1917)

Influencing Factors

  • British Imperial Connections:

    • Migration was related to British colonial policies and labor circulation within the Empire

  • Economic Conditions in Punjab:

    • Displacement of farming populations under colonial control

    • Young Punjabi men primarily seeking to work abroad

Filipino Migration (1906-1934)

American Imperial Influence

  • Legal Status:

    • Filipinos were considered US nationals; this unique status allowed them to circumvent exclusionary immigration laws while facilitating labor access

Migration Phases

  • Hawaii Phase:

    • Initial recruitment of Filipino workers (unsuccessful at first) shifted due to colonial motivations

  • Mainland Phase (1924-1934):

    • Marked the peak of Filipino migration to the continental US, especially California, driven by labor demand and colonial status restrictions.