1
Primary Sources – The California Gold Rush, 1848
The California Gold Rush began simply enough, with the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill near Coloma,
California, on January 24, 1848. Unable to keep it a secret for very long, a March 15 headline in a San
Francisco newspaper made it general knowledge, and the Gold Rush was on. People flocked to the 31st
state, hoping to strike it rich and with very little effort. That dream did not come true for many, but they
stayed anyway and took up new trades, built new communities, and turned California into a wealthy and
populated state virtually overnight. The Gold Rush was truly an international event, with people flocking
from all over the globe looking for opportunity. This created a great deal of diversity very early on, a
condition originally accepted by most people. But that attitude shifted fairly quickly, especially after the
gold started to play out and economic depressions created competition for even the lowest-paying jobs.
The excerpts below reveal the attitudes of some white settlers toward people of diverse ethnic
backgrounds, in this case Chinese immigrants. Prior to the Gold Rush very few people of Asian descent
lived in the area, but the chance to make a living working in the gold fields or elsewhere attracted
thousands of people from China. Never more than a small minority of the population of the state, the
Chinese quickly became the target of racism, including laws that targeted them just for being Chinese.
Things to consider: 1) Based on the following sources, what kind of complaints did white Californians
have against Chinese immigrants? 2) In what ways did Norman Asing counter some of those
complaints? 3) Opinion Question: What do you think the consequences were of anti-Chinese racism in
California?
Norman Asing on Anti-Chinese Racism in California Government1
Like peoples of other countries, Chinese flocked to California during the Gold Rush in large numbers,
20,000 by 1852, in search of opportunity. Many U.S. citizens saw Asian immigrants as an economic
threat because they competed for gold claims and, later, in other trades. White Californians also
believed the Chinese threatened American lifeways, simply because Chinese culture looked so different
to them. Norman Asing, a Chinese immigrant who had lived in the U.S. since 1820, moved to San
Francisco early in the Gold Rush to open a restaurant. He objected to California Governor John
Bigler’s increasingly hostile attitude toward Chinese immigrants. Bigler supported taxes that only
applied to Chinese immigrants, the intent being to keep Chinese from settling in the state. In response,
Asing wrote an open letter to the Daily Alta California, an early California Bay Area newspaper, to
express his concerns about Bigler’s anti-Chinese racism.
To His Excellency Gov. Bigler,
Sir: I am a Chinaman, a republican, and a lover of free institutions; am much attached to the
principles of the government of the United States, and therefore take the liberty of addressing
you as the chief of the government of this State….
I am not much acquainted with your logic, that by excluding population from this State you
enhance its wealth. I have always considered that population was wealth; particularly a
population of producers, of men who by the labor of their hands or intellect, enrich the
warehouses or the granaries of the country with the products of nature and art. You are deeply
convinced you say “that to enhance the prosperity and preserve the tranquility of this State,
Asiatic immigration must be checked.†This, your Excellency, is but one step towards a
1
Norman Asing to Governor Bigler, May 5, 1852, “We Are Not the Degraded Race You Would Make Usâ€: Norman Asing
Challenges Chinese Immigration Restrictions,” History Matters: The U.S. History Survey on the Web, accessed July 27, 2018,
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6561/.
2
retrograde movement of the government, which, on reflection, you will discover; and which the
citizens of this country ought never to tolerate…. But your further logic is more reprehensible.
You argue that this is a republic of a particular race—that the Constitution of the United States
admits of no asylum to any other than the pale face. This proposition is false in the extreme, and
you know it. The declaration of your independence, and all the acts of your government, your
people, and your history are all against you.
It is true, you have degraded the Negro because of your holding him in involuntary servitude,
and because for the sake of union in some of your states such was tolerated, and amongst this
class you would endeavor to place us; and no doubt it would be pleasing to some would-be
freemen to mark the brand of servitude upon us. But we would beg to remind you that when your
nation was a wilderness, and the nation from which you sprung barbarous, we exercised most of
the arts and virtues of civilized life; that we are possessed of a language and a literature, and that
men skilled in science and the arts are numerous among us; that the productions of our
manufactories, our sail, and workshops, form no small share of the commerce of the world; and
that for centuries, colleges, schools, charitable institutions, asylums, and hospitals, have been as
common as in your own land. That our people cannot be reproved for their idleness, and that
your historians have given them due credit for the variety and richness of their works of art, and
for their simplicity of manners, and particularly their industry….
Your Excellency will discover, however, that we are as much allied to the African race and the
red man as you are yourself, and that as far as the aristocracy of skin is concerned, ours might
compare with many of the European races; nor do we consider that your Excellency, as a
Democrat, will make us believe that the framers of your declaration of rights ever suggested the
propriety of establishing an aristocracy of skin.
Chico Anti-Chinese League Resolutions2
On May 10, 1894 some 1,300 white citizens of Chico, California, representing 45 percent of the city’s
total population, met in the local armory to discuss what they called the “Chinese question.” The most
recent in a series of what would be called hate groups today, they formed the Anti-Chinese League and
passed a number of resolutions, reproduced below. Like all previous efforts, the real problem was not
“Asiatic” labor, but a major economic depression that began in 1893 that began in Argentina but
quickly became global thanks to problems inherent to reliance on the gold standard, which the U.S. and
all major European powers used at the time. This particular depression, one of many that occurred in
the later-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, did not end until 1897.
We, the business men and residents of Chico and its vicinity, do hereby Resolve, That the
various avenues of labor being now almost entirely monopolized by the Asiatic and Japanese is
fast depopulating our fair country and bringing destitution and want into many households; has
reduced our census of public school children at the rate of more than one hundred a year for the
past two years; that by the presence of more than eight hundred Asiatics and some two hundred
Japanese, our people, who are near to us by nationality and dear to us by a common civilization,
and whose presence in our midst is more desirable, whose business interests are, or should be
closely allied with the interests of every other business of our community; are, through want of
employment, now being compelled to seek homes elsewhere, and to this state of facts is in a
2
Chico Anti-Chinese League Minute Book, 1894-1895, MSS-172, Northeastern California Collection, Meriam Library
Special Collections, California State University, Chico, 1-5.
3
great measure due to the extreme dullness in our local trades and the business interest of Chico
and its vicinity.
We realize that the employment of one thousand men and women in our midst would, in a great
measure revive our waning retail business and add new life to the general trade of this
community. Our people are demanding work. They must have employment to live and care for
those dependent upon them. Otherwise they must give way to the coolie invaders. Therefore be it
Resolved, That forbearance has ceased to be a virtue that we will use every possible peaceful,
and lawful means that we can command to prohibit the further congregating here of Asiatic
coolies or the employment of those now here and that as soon legal as [sic] ways and means can
be devised we will lend our efforts toward ridding this plague-stricken community of the
vampires that have long fed on the industries of this patient and forbearing community. And be it
further
Resolved, That prosperity and property rights must be sacredly protected, that no undue haste or
personal violence will be countenanced. The will of the majority has long since been construed
to be the end of the law. We realize that we are the center of the cooley colony north of
Sacramento and that only by a firm and united effort can their hold be broken, and we deem it to
be the duty of every business man to lend his aid and presence in the good cause. And be it
further
Resolved, That the imperfection of Mongolian laborers for fruit picking or other purposes should
immediately be stopped for the good of the community.
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
