Western Settlement and the Frontier(4)

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History 1140 Assignment: Western Expansion The rapid movement West following the Civil War is one of the most dynamic and legendary eras in US history. The following articles address some key issues of this era. This assignment is due Tuesday September 12. On that day, you should turn in the written assignment and be prepared to discuss the ideas and your observations in a class discussion. Directions: Read the primary sources “Chinese Immigrants Complain to Their Consulate, 1885” found pp 39-40 and “Chinese Immigrant Lee Chew Denounces Prejudice in America, 1882” pp. 65-66 in Major Problems in American History Volume II: Since 1865 and address the following questions. 1. List and explain any two specific examples of violence and/or intimidation that were used against the Chinese laborers in the first document. The first example of violence that was used against the chinese laborers is when members of a gang would stop these Chinese laborers walking by on the street and just strip them of everything they had for example any gold or silver in their possession. The second example is the white man shooting and killing these Chinese laborers on the spot, as well as burning their bodies, some of them even still alive. 2. What does the author give as the reason behind this violence? Why do you think they reacted so violently against this particular group of people? The author gives the reasoning of the Chinese laborers not being on board with the white man going on strike. They did not agree with going on strike therefore this is when the white man was no longer okay with working alongside the Chinese man anymore. Since this meant they would work for less. I think they reacted so violently because they saw them as a threat. They were “faithful workers” and would often work for less. So this would’ve made the average wage even less, therefore the white man would have to work for less because if they didn’t then the job would just go to a Chinese immigrant which would basically take any job given to them no matter the wage. So this made the white mane very resentful towards Chinese immigrants. 3. Speculate on why you think this letter was addressed to the Chinese consul rather than local law enforcement authorities. What does this say to you about the division and distrust amongst ethnic groups in the West? I think this letter was addressed to the Chinese consul because the police wouldn’t have done anything. Back then, and sometimes even in today's age, anyone that isn’t white is sometimes distrustful of police. The police were not much help if the victim was not white they would just push the issue to the side and not care. I think ethnic groups were very distrustful of the police, especially back then. They would stop going to the local law enforcement because there was no point since nothing would get solved anyway. 4. In the second document, what aspects of his background do you find to be the most relevant in explaining why Mr. Chew left China to come to America? What challenges and difficulties faced him as he traveled to America and once he first arrived?

The aspects of his background I find to be the most relevant are his financial status in China, as well as the knowledge of the man who had gone to America poor and came back wealthy. I think this motivated Mr. Chew to come to America and see if he can gain the same wealth. Mr. Chew faced hunger when he first traveled to America, he was too afraid to eat what was provided on the boat, because he was afraid of what was in it. As well as it wasn’t what he was used to and he did not like it. So once he arrived he was “half-starved”. When he first arrived, a difficulty he faced was not knowing the English language. As well as not knowing how to do basic housework which is what he got a job in. 5. According to Mr. Chew, why did he and so many other Chinese immigrants gravitate to the laundry industry in America? What does this say to you about the importance of ethnic solidarity and resilience in the Chinese immigrant experience? The Chinese laborers didn't have many options for employment in America during this time. They were banned from many industries such as mining and building railroads. So they turned over to the laundromat industry which did not threaten any white man's employment. In my opinion I believe the Chinese immigrants chose this route because they really wanted to show the white man that even if they did restrict them from working the major jobs they would still find a way around it to survive. 6. What does he say about other immigrant ethnic groups in his statement? Why do you think he was so willing to accept negative and offensive stereotypes yet label his own group in only praiseworthy terms? How does this reveal distrust and division between various immigrant groups? Do you think his comments here are hypocritical? Please explain. Mr. Chew really only says negative things about the other immigrant groups for example he says “Irish fill the almshouses and prisons and orphan asylums, Italians are among the most dangerous of men, Jews are unclean and ignorant.” In my opinion I believe it was because it was more of a situation where you had to stick with your own people. The immigrant groups were very divided during this time so they would just defend and stay with their own people of chinese ethnicity. So of course he would praise all of his people. This proves distrust among them, because they would bring each other down. Another factor is even though they were all immigrants, the Germans, Italians, etc. had it better because they “looked white”. I think they are a little hypocritical because although I understand where he is coming from and America back then was very unfair to Asians, why stoop down to their level by calling them names and stereotypes, at the same time I’m sure the Chinese immigrants did not like the stereotypes used against them. So why cave into these stereotypes of other ethnic groups? 7. Taking both articles into consideration, consider the fact that Chinese-Americans generally stayed in the American West and are still a large ethnic group in that region of the US today. What does this tell you about the resilience of this and other similarly targeted immigrant groups? What strategies do you think the Chinese-Americans employed to survive and thrive for so long in the West? In my opinion this tells us that the Chinese immigrants did not let all of the violence and negativity drive them away from their home in the west. They stood their ground in the West. Considering the ones that did leave towards the East, a lot of them did stay where they originally first settled down for example in San Francisco. I think they found loopholes in the jobs that they

could take over for example the laundry mats. They did what they could to survive, getting employed and getting paid little to no wages, but happy to have work. Directions: Read the primary source “An Ex-Slave Recalls Migrating Across the Prairie, 1936” found pp 42-44 in Major Problems in American History Volume II: Since 1865 and address the following questions. 8. What skills or background information does Mr. Simms provide that might seem applicable to life on the prairie? What aspects of slavery does he mention that might be a hindrance to his survival on the prairie? Please explain each. Mr. Simms provides the background of him being a soldier for the confederate army for 3 years, as well as he did farm work as a slave, this is very relevant to life on the prairie especially him being a soldier because he had survival skills. Some difficulties he faced was having little to no food, he only had some bread, as well as he had no type of weapon on him while he was traveling which would have been very helpful, especially for food. 9. What hardships does he encounter once he arrives in Kansas? What strategies does he employ to cope with these hardships and what opportunities does he refer to in Kansas that he didn’t have previously? Please explain any two or more. A hardship Mr. Simms encountered once he arrived in Kansas was only having tallow candles as light in the small town. As well as having no sewers at the time in the town. An opportunity he had that he didn't have in Missouri is the ability to learn to read and write, as well as earning a higher wage. He also had the opportunity to give his children a better life and get them a higher education. 10. What evidence do you see of his reliance on family or community as a slave? How might these support systems be used to help him or other Freedmen in the West overcome the difficulties? I believe he used his family as motivation for a better life. Once his wife had passed away it filled him with motivation for their girls future life. He used them as a support system and motivation for life. I believe it would help the other freedman to know that it is possible to give your family a better life no matter the difficulties because the girls were both successful as well as were given a better life by their father only who was once just a slave on a plantation like them. Directions: Read the primary source “Historian Frederick Jackson Turner Articulates His “Frontier Thesis” found pp 41-42 in Major Problems in American History Volume II: Since 1865 and address the following questions. 11. In which specific ways do new settlers on the frontier become “American” according to Turner? List and explain and two examples. Do you agree that these are truly “American” features? Why or why not? A way settlers became more “American” according to Turner, is by adapting to the harsh landscapes. In his essay he states “He must accept the conditions which it furnishes, or perish”, to further explain, he is saying the settlers must follow the Native-Americans on the land that is

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America already or they will die. The next example of a way settlers became more American is by moving westward. In Turner's essay he says, “Moving westward, the frontier became more and more American..” by this he means the westward expansion and all of the settlers moving out west. In my opinion I do think this was truly “American” because the westward expansion is a significant part of America's history and these settlers helped shape this part of history. So in conclusion I do think these are American features. 12. How does Turner relate democracy to the frontier? In other words, why does he believe the frontier is conducive to the development of democracy? Do you agree with his assessment? Why or why not? He believes the frontier is conducive to the development of democracy because the people back then were afraid that with the frontier bening gone the government would start to gain more control and more power over the people. They were afraid they would have to start relying more on the government for survival and assistance, since being over the frontier line the poor could go out and start a new life and strive for a better life. I do agree with his assessment because after this the government was still a democracy but as well it did gain more control over the lands the people did not own and had more of an influence in people's financial status in the country. 13. How does Turner depict Native Americans? What of his description indicates his reliance on stereotypes? What of his description indicates that white settlers can benefit from Native practices and existence in the West? Please explain. He depicts them in my opinion as what they are Native to the lands, as well as being very well settled and knowing how to survive on these lands. His reliance on stereotypes is decrypted by “It strips off the garments of civilization and arrays him in the hunting shirt and the moccasin.” In my opinion when Turner says, “so he fits himself into the Indian clearings and follows Indian Trails.” This really exemplifies how the whites can benefit from the Natives because he is saying that the whites must follow the path of the Natives and practice what they do. Furthermore he also states that the white settlers must follow the Native American ways or they will eventually die. 14. When Turner concluded that “the frontier has gone, and with its going has closed the first period of American history”, many Americans reacted to this assessment with fear. What do you think they feared? Do you think their fears were founded? Speculate on what other new “frontiers” Americans pursued in the early 20 th century to fill the gap left by this “closed” frontier? I believe they feared the government would completely take over. As well as they did not know what was on the other side of the frontier so exploring it could have been scary at the time. They were entering a new era. I believe in a way their fears were founded because after this land was much harder to obtain, rather than the homestead act where it was practically given to them. The new frontier in the 20th century was not a physical one but more so a metaphoric one, as President John. F Kennedy said it was a new frontier of the unknown and opportunities for example in space. 15. The main theme of this document, often referred to as the “Turner Thesis” is one of the most important and influential historical theories in US History. How would you summarize the Turner Thesis in your own words? The Turner Thesis main focus was the importance of the western frontier. The west is what would hold America's fate as well as the significance of the future world. He brought up the development of Native Americans beyond that boundary and how we must learn from them. As well as a very significant part of his essay was his view on the

government and democracy. In conclusion his main thesis was the importance of the west in developing America.

Western Settlement and the Frontier(4)

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