how did the "Travelers to Gold Mountain" fare during the gold rush?
how did that compare to the treatment of hispanic and native american populations at the time?
Gam Saan Haak was a name for the travelers from China coming to California to search for gold. Chinese called America “Gam Saan”, or “Gold Mountain” in that time.The U.S. became known as the “Old Gold Mountain”. Their name came from Gam Saan, meaning “Gold Mountain.”
The first to travel were people in Taishan, Guangdong. Chinese ships had to stay in a growing Chinese settlement in San Francisco instead of going to gold fields. This settlement was later to be known as Chinatown, San Francisco. In the 1850s, British Columbia also became known as “Gold Mountain” because gold had been found in it`s Fraser Canyon. Chinese came to British Columbia as well, being known as “The Colonies of T`ang”, meaning “Western North America”.
Mexicans, Chinese, and Blacks were treated badly. Though the Chinese worked hard to connect the West to the rest of America, and find Gold. They were never credited as whites were. Chinese immigrated to America for both gold and better life. Back in China, they were overcrowded, in poverty, and experiencing social injustice. Many men from Taishan, Guangdong came because they could not support their families because of overcrowded land. People in Guangdong lived a horrible life, so when they heard of the gold in California to make their lives better, they said their goodbyes and went to mine it. The sail to America was long and tiring, and they had to go through immigration clearance. The clearance was so tough and strict that 10% were forced to go back to China. The clearance enforced ridiculous questions and extensive interrogation, because the Americans thought Chinese lied. The Chinese did not lie, but they were forced to to get past the clearance, which required you be born in the U.S. or be a Merchant.
The first to travel were people in Taishan, Guangdong. Chinese ships had to stay in a growing Chinese settlement in San Francisco instead of going to gold fields. This settlement was later to be known as Chinatown, San Francisco. In the 1850s, British Columbia also became known as “Gold Mountain” because gold had been found in it`s Fraser Canyon. Chinese came to British Columbia as well, being known as “The Colonies of T`ang”, meaning “Western North America”.
Mexicans, Chinese, and Blacks were treated badly. Though the Chinese worked hard to connect the West to the rest of America, and find Gold. They were never credited as whites were. Chinese immigrated to America for both gold and better life. Back in China, they were overcrowded, in poverty, and experiencing social injustice. Many men from Taishan, Guangdong came because they could not support their families because of overcrowded land. People in Guangdong lived a horrible life, so when they heard of the gold in California to make their lives better, they said their goodbyes and went to mine it. The sail to America was long and tiring, and they had to go through immigration clearance. The clearance was so tough and strict that 10% were forced to go back to China. The clearance enforced ridiculous questions and extensive interrogation, because the Americans thought Chinese lied. The Chinese did not lie, but they were forced to to get past the clearance, which required you be born in the U.S. or be a Merchant.
Once the Chinese had made it through the Clearance, they had gone to Sacramento and San Francisco. They had started to mine but once they started to not find gold, they changed to fishing, washing, and cooking. The Chinese also moved off of the gold fields because of attacks. The reason the Chinese could not stay was because the court would not vote in favor of them instead of the American attackers. This compares to Hispanic and Native American`s treatment, because all of them were attacked. Most planned to return after striking gold, but instead they stayed.
Once the Chinese got into California, the Chinese acted nice. They worked hard, were clean, respectful , behaved, sober, didn't complain, and were industrious. Companies liked the advantages of employing Chinese, so they usually employed them regularly. Over all, the Chinese fared better than Hispanics and Native Americans. Gam Saan Haak was important to America because they helped make the West a part of America, by contributing to the Gold Rush and increasing California`s population growth making it the 31st state in 1850.
Liam J.
Sources:
http://kiahsenglishblog.wordpress.com/gam-saan-haak-the-travelers-to-gold-mountain/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Mountain
PBS documentary The Gold Rush
Once the Chinese got into California, the Chinese acted nice. They worked hard, were clean, respectful , behaved, sober, didn't complain, and were industrious. Companies liked the advantages of employing Chinese, so they usually employed them regularly. Over all, the Chinese fared better than Hispanics and Native Americans. Gam Saan Haak was important to America because they helped make the West a part of America, by contributing to the Gold Rush and increasing California`s population growth making it the 31st state in 1850.
Liam J.
Sources:
http://kiahsenglishblog.wordpress.com/gam-saan-haak-the-travelers-to-gold-mountain/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Mountain
PBS documentary The Gold Rush