"The World Belongs to the Commonwealth": Creating Chinatown in Chicago
Areas of History/Tags: Chicago History and Asian American History.
Code(s): Accessible--plentiful source material; Visual material plentiful
Overview: Aimed to severely hinder the influence and growth of the Chinese population, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act encouraged the growing discrimination and violence toward the West Coast Chinese population. In an attempt to escape anti-Chinese sentiment, West Coast Chinese found settlements further east. Large cities like Boston, Chicago, and New York contained promises of occupational opportunities and merchant growth. By the 1870s, Chicago would begin to see a steady increase in the Chinese population. By the 1880s, Clark and Van Buren would be the home of Chicago’s first Chinatown. Although Chinese discrimination in Chicago was not as severe as what was being experienced on the West Coast, it still persisted. Yet, strong family associations, community associations, and transnational ties allowed Chicago’s Chinese population to establish a distinct ethnic enclave that followed them even after the relocation of Chinatown. From the Loop area to further south on Wentworth and 22nd St, Chicago’s Chinese population has secured a chapter in Chicago's rich history of immigration persistence and success in a new environment.
Relevant Collections:
Links to preliminary sources:
Secondary
Primary
Areas of History/Tags: Chicago History and Asian American History.
Code(s): Accessible--plentiful source material; Visual material plentiful
Overview: Aimed to severely hinder the influence and growth of the Chinese population, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act encouraged the growing discrimination and violence toward the West Coast Chinese population. In an attempt to escape anti-Chinese sentiment, West Coast Chinese found settlements further east. Large cities like Boston, Chicago, and New York contained promises of occupational opportunities and merchant growth. By the 1870s, Chicago would begin to see a steady increase in the Chinese population. By the 1880s, Clark and Van Buren would be the home of Chicago’s first Chinatown. Although Chinese discrimination in Chicago was not as severe as what was being experienced on the West Coast, it still persisted. Yet, strong family associations, community associations, and transnational ties allowed Chicago’s Chinese population to establish a distinct ethnic enclave that followed them even after the relocation of Chinatown. From the Loop area to further south on Wentworth and 22nd St, Chicago’s Chinese population has secured a chapter in Chicago's rich history of immigration persistence and success in a new environment.
Relevant Collections:
- Correspondence of the Chinese Division, 1893-1924. (National Archives at Chicago)
- Chinese case files, 1898-1940. (National Archives at Chicago)
- Chinese American Museum of Chicago (Digital Collections)
Links to preliminary sources:
Secondary
- Kiang, Harry. Chicago's Chinatown.1992. (Encyclopedia of Chicago)
- Steffes, Tracy. Chinese. (Encyclopedia of Chicago)
- Chicago History Podcast. “Episode 301- Chicago’s Original Chinatown 1870-1912.” (Podcast)
- Ling, Huping. “Chinese Chicago: Transnational Migration and Business, 1870s-1930s.” Journal of Chinese Overseas 6 (2010). (Link)
- Ho, Chuimei, and Soo Lon Moy. Chinese in Chicago, 1870-1945. Arcadia, 2005.
Primary
- "Chinese Plan to Become Citizens: Chicago Celestials to Begin Active Work Tomorrow, Which is Their New Year’s Day.”Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Jan 30, 1897. (ProQuest)
- "The Chinese Are Going: Decreasing Population of San Francisco’s “Chinatown”.” Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Jul 07, 1891. (ProQuest)
- "San Francisco.: Chinatown Declared a Nuisance--"The Chinese Must Go"--The Workingmen Jubilant--Arrested For Employing Chinese Laborers--Crop Prospects." Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Feb 22, 1880. (ProQuest)