created by caveatlector73 on 26/11/2024 at 19:29 UTC
232 upvotes, 9 top-level comments (showing 9)
Comment by caveatlector73 at 26/11/2024 at 21:22 UTC
40 upvotes, 2 direct replies
From Part 1:
*"The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is widely considered to be the first major immigration clampdown in American history. It's a riveting tale that parallels today and may provide insights into the economic consequences of immigration restrictions and mass deportations. This is Part 1 of that story, which explains how Chinese immigrants became a crucial workforce in the American West and why, despite their sacrifices and contributions creating the transcontinental railroad, the railroad's completion may have actually contributed to a populist backlash that sealed their fates."*
From Part 2:
"The completion of the transcontinental railroad may have, ironically, contributed to the coming populist backlash. For one, excitement over the transcontinental and other railroads led to a speculative bubble. Investors overestimated[1] the money-making potential of railroads, and once the transcontinental railroad was up and running, reality began to set in about how much money railroads and related investments would actually make. When the bubble burst in 1873, it took the whole economy with it...
Even more, during and after completion of the railroad, Chinese immigrants became a more sought after workforce, which effectively put a target on their backs. Increasing numbers of white workers began to resent them. They saw them as a culturally alien workforce, willing and able to do all sorts of jobs for less pay. And it wasn't just railroads. Chinese immigrants now worked in all sorts of West Coast industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, woodcutting, and mining. "While the Chinese constituted less than 10 percent of the population of California in 1870, they accounted for approximately 25 percent of the workforce," writes Beth Lew-Williams in her book *The Chinese Must Go: Violence, Exclusion, and the Making of the Alien in America.*"
Comment by caveatlector73 at 26/11/2024 at 19:31 UTC*
22 upvotes, 0 direct replies
While it can be argued by some that history that didn't happen yesterday does not inform the future, however as this two part series shows that may not be the case. History, as shown in the last massive deportation in America, is often a good way to predict how the future will go and this series explores the pertinent parallels.
Below is a link to the second part. Although long they are insightful and have the potential to make for a good discussion when read first.
https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2024/11/26/g-s1-35805/chinese-expulsion-act-railroads-immigration-crackdown[1][2]
Comment by PiccoloWilliams at 27/11/2024 at 11:34 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Thanks for this article. It is bit of American history I’ve never learned.
Comment by [deleted] at 01/12/2024 at 15:08 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is why I started to donate to NPR this year. We need this type of journalism to survive.
Comment by [deleted] at 26/11/2024 at 21:05 UTC
-1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by ACLU_EvilPatriarchy at 27/11/2024 at 03:48 UTC
-8 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Did The Democrats and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt go too far when they signed and put into effect the Mexican Repatriation Act during the Great Depression thru the start of WW2?
because they put on trains back to Mexico 2/3 of all of the Hispanics in the USA over the course of more than half a dozen years.
All of the non-Citizens and all of the "Obama Dreamers" and Anchor Babies.
The only Hispanics remaining were third generation whose illegal grandparents were here already during Pancho Villa Mexican Revolution days and Naturalized, sworn in and drafted citizens and spouses of US Citizens.
The Democrat Way.
Comment by [deleted] at 26/11/2024 at 21:45 UTC
-7 upvotes, 4 direct replies
[removed]
Comment by xxoahu at 27/11/2024 at 05:45 UTC
-8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
someone READS NPR?? who knew NPR has a website and how bored and captured must you be to visit it?! good new is, it will cease to exist soon.
Comment by Academic-Row-5010 at 26/11/2024 at 22:44 UTC
-14 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What's happening in America IT tech? Can you please send me a picture overview of it. Thanks