Chinese Exclusion Act

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101

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History

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Oct 30, 2023

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Carson The Chinese Exclusion Act Despite being referred to as a "immigration" act, in reality, people of Chinese origin were no longer allowed to enter Canada. Less than 100 Chinese were permitted to enter Canada during the 24-year period of exclusion between 1923 and 1947 (the year the Exclusion Act was finally repealed). As gold has attracted many people, it has also caught the attention of the Chinese. As soon as the Chinese immigrants entered, they were faced with prejudice as they settled in British Columbia (formerly known as New Caledonia) in 1858. Discriminatory regulations, including blatant harassment from white prospectors prevented many Chinese from getting rich in Canada. These regulations include “The Chinese Residency Act of 1858”, which restricted Chinese people to living only in designated areas of cities and towns, effectively creating segregated "Chinatowns" in urban areas. “The Chinese Miners Tax of 1858”, which imposed a monthly tax of $4 on every Chinese person engaged in mining in British Columbia. Dating back to 1885, sources provided points towards the fact that the federal government had tried to limit the flow of Chinese immigration. Slowly, a $50 head tax significantly rose to a ridiculous $500 by 1903. However, this approach was unsuccessful as the Canadian population of Chinese people tripled from 13,000 to nearly 40,000 from 1885 - 1921. This led the Canadian government at that time (Lyon Mackenzie King) to abolish the head tax in 1923 and introduce the Chinese Immigration Act, often referred to as the “Chinese Exclusion Act”. This new law prohibited all Chinese immigration, with the exception of diplomats, students, certain merchants, and all Canadian-born in of CHinese descent returning from overseas - but only if they have not left for more than two years. The legislation passed on July 1, 1923 - a holiday most Canadians then called Dominion Day became known as “Humiliation Day” in the Chinese-Canadian community. The Chinese Exclusion Act was an overwhelming success in the eyes of the government. During the exclusion period, less than 50 Chinese immigrants gained the luxury of entering Canada. Without Chinese immigration, the population of Canada decreased by 25%, from 39,587 in 1921 to 32,528 by 1951. This law not only banned Chinese immigration, but also intentionally disrupted Chinese families and stunted Canadian growth. The causes of the Canadian Chinese Exclusion Act can be linked back to the late 19th century when Chinese immigrants began arriving in Canada in large numbers to work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This mass immigration of Chinese immigrants led to social and economic tensions, as some Canadians felt that the Chinese were taking jobs away from Canadians and contributing to a decline in wages. This idea was based on a misconception and lack of understanding. Chinese immigrants were brought to Canada to work on difficult and dangerous jobs many Canadians refused to work. The Chinese immigrants were also often paid less than every Canadian worker, but this was because they were willing to work

Carson for lower wages not because they were taking jobs away from Canadians. There are consequences of this act, including the separation of family, economic consequences, and just an overall stain in Canada’s history. The most important consequence of this law was family separation. The law prevented Chinese immigrants from bringing their families to Canada, which caused significant emotional distress for Chinese immigrants and their families.This law also restricted the possibility of skilled labor from the Chinese, causing the Chinese community in Canada to be set back. This also lowered the Canadian economy, as it limited the potential for economic growth and innovation. The Chinese Exclusion act is also seen as a form of racial discrimination, as it prioritized Chinese immigrants based on their ethnicity. It reinforced the negative stereotypes set by Canadians and contributed to the marginalization of Chinese Canadians. This caused conflict between Canada and China, as it represented Western imperialism and discrimination against the Chinese people. To sum it all up, The Chinese Exclusion Act has had and will hold a long lasting legacy for exclusion and the marginalization of Chinese Canadians. This law contributed to a culture of racism and discrimination, which is still present in today’s society and has affected countless generations of Chinese Canadians. It is important to remember the consequences of the Exclusion act and to work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

Carson

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Carson “Canadian Pacific Railway (Plain-Language Summary).” The Canadian Encyclopedia , https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-pacific-railway-plain- language-summary#:~:text=The%20Canadian%20Pacific%20Railway%20(CPR,a %20short%20period%20of%20time. “'Chinese Exclusion Act'.” British Columbia - An Untold History, https://bcanuntoldhistory.knowledge.ca/1920/chinese-exclusion-act. “Chinese Immigration Act.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chinese-immigration-act. Trade, Ministry of International. “Federal Exclusion Act.” Province of British Columbia, Province of British Columbia, 24 Nov. 2016, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/multiculturalism-anti-racism/chinese- legacy-bc/history/discrimination/federal-exclusion-act#:~:text=Despite%20its%20name %20as%20an,were%20allowed%20to%20enter%20Canada.