AmericanHistoryAutoRecovered.docx

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American History

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American History

James D. Phelan wrote the article “Why the Chinese Should Be Excluded” to support continues prohibition of Chinese immigration. In 1882 and 1992, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, and, in this article, Phelan expresses racist ideas common among the whites at the time. The article “Chinese Immigrants Confront Anti-Chinese Prejudice (1885, 1903)” gives an account of Mary Pate and Lee Chew’s experiences of prejudice based on their nationality. 
The article by Phelan (1901) is about providing arguments for the exclusion of the Chinese in American society. Exclusion addresses the menace of Chinese immigration to the U.S that threatens the country. The article presents that Chinese immigration presents a threat to the country. It threatens the foundations of law and by sparking outbursts to protect job losses to Chinese people who offer cheap labor. Also, for self-protection purposes, exclusion of Chinese is necessary to prevent serious dis s that affect American politics and protect the white population. Chinese people are a threat to American society, civilization, and thus, not good citizens. Accounts of Mary Tape and Lee Chew show the prejudice that Chinese immigrants confront in American society. Mary Tape’s daughter was denied entry into a public school in California and was forced to enroll at a segregated Chinese school. Lee Chew describes the insults and frauds just for being a Chinese immigrant. Chinese people faced harassment from the whites, breaking their windows. Treatment of Chinese people in the U.S is mean and unjust. 
Chapter 19 of the American Yawp discusses interventions that shaped American society. In particular, the two articles related to immigration as discussed in this chapter. In the late 19th and early 20th century, millions of immigrants migrated to the U.S, and there was strong opposition by natives to this mass immigration. The article by Phelan present support for this opposition and reflect on the racial hostility towards the Chinese people in California at the time. The accounts of Mary Pate and Lee Chew show how the Americans responded to the mass immigration to the U.S. Therefore, these two articles present how Americans responded to immigrants in the U.S, especially the Chinese.
Also, the two articles relate to each other. The article by Phelan provides the fears of the American people over increased Chinese immigrants. The main cited argument for excluding the Chinese related to employment as these immigrants took away jobs meant for Americans. The second article presents American’s response to these fears, anti-Chinese sentiments placing Chinese people at a disadvantage with regard to access to public schools and employment in the skilled sector and harassment. 
After reading these two sources, some major questions arise:
1. What was the primary impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on the Chinese people and American society?
2. What was the significance of the Tape v. Hurley (1885) case? 
3. What other unjust treatment did Chinese immigrants face at the time?

References
Tape, M., & Chew, L. Chinese Immigrants Confront Anti-Chinese Prejudice (1885, 1903)

Phelan, J. D. (1901). Why the Chinese Should Be Excluded. The North American Review, 173(540), 663-676.