Shelby+H.


 * What is your //general// belief about who or what is most responsible for causing the conflict?**

My general belief is that racism as well as resentment were most responsible for causing the Chinese Exclusion act. Racism tensions increased as more and more immigrants moved to America. They were racist to the Chinese for even the way the looked, talked and dressed. Their culture is much different then ours. The Americans also resented the Chinese immigrants because they felt the americans were taking their jobs. Generally, if someone resents someone then they usually want them far away. The chinese exclusion act would do this and for Americans in 1882, it was the perfect solution. However, it wasn't so fair.

**What is the relevant background information (i.e. who, what, when, where)?**

Seattle,1882: Racial tensions had been rising for years now and perhaps the exlsuion act (regarding the chinese) stating "That any person who shall knowingly bring into or cause to be brought into the United States by land,shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor." was the climax of the conflict. Who was responsible for this act? The federal goverment in the countries capital. However, the Americans in that time most likely brought them to their descision. The Chinese, too. In fact, cencus recorded 250 chinese living in Seattle around that time. (Historylink.org)

**What were 3 factors that helped cause the conflict (politics, economics, geography, history)?**

The first factor is the failing economy. There was a depression that occured just before the act was put into place. The cause if this was less and less jobs being available. At first, there was plenty of gold, but as more and more miners worked, the amount significantly decreased. This decrease in gold effected the economy majorly, as it put miners without jobs. Americans decided extra amounts of Chinese miners were responsible for the loss. Also, the fact that most Americans whitnessed slavery around the 1800's was a historical factor. To most Americans, slavery was okay. If slavery was okay, then wouldn't exclusion be, too? Well, that's what the American people believed. Lastly, the document published in Seattle may have been a cause of the conflict. This one document demanded all Americans fire any Chinese workers and request their return home to China. (sun.melonschool.org)

**Explain why one factor is more important than the others.**

The failing economy is the most important factor. Without a job americans were left resentful, and unhappy. As mentioned, they blamed the Chinese for the job loss because there were more immigrants working as gold miners which equalled less gold. When they don't have a job and are in an economic depression, they are feeling the effects every night before they go to sleep and every day as they try to get more money. Where with the other effects, such as the history of slavery, they are probally not thinking of that every day. The people without jobs were reminded of their resent every day, and this feeling was not helping the Chinese be included.

**How could the conflict have been avoided?** If Americans really looked at the problem rather than the Chinese immigrants, they would discover more efficient solutions. The problem was lack of jobs, leading to a depression. It was not "too many chinese". If the American population grew, then the same problem would arise. However, Americans probally wouldn't exclude their own people. And they were not racsist or resentful to their own people either. Could Americans racism and resent towards Chinese be avoided? Yes. If racist events in the past, like slavery, didn't occur then perhaps Americans view on the problem would be different.


 * What sources of information have you used? **

1. Crowley, Walt. “Anti-Chinese Activism” __Historylink.org__. 2nd May. 1999. 20th April. 2009 http:/www.historylink.org/index.cfm ?DisplayPages=output.cfmandfile=1057 2. Lambert, Dale and Clark, Dustin. __Washington____, A State of Contrasts.__ East Wenatchee, WA: Directed Media Inc., 2008.(pg.244-247)

3. Stevens,Todd. “Illegal entry has roots in Chinese Exclusion” __Seattle__ __Times__ Sunday. 16th January. 2000. 21st May. 2009. http//community.seattletimes .w/source.com/archive/?date=2000000116andslug=al00011170101030 4.Unknown. “The Chinese Exclusion Act: A blank legacy” __Sun.melonschool.org__. 20th May. 2009. Sun.melonshool.org/umbrody/ushistory/angel/exclusion-act.1667+ce1667.org