WELCOME TO Philadelphia Chinatown
"Chinese "Friendship Arch",
CHINATOWN HISTORY
During the late 1840’s, many Chinese laborers, mostly male, starting coming into the United States. They were drawn to the states due to the rumors and promises of higher wages. This was during the time of the civil war and economic stagnation in their home town of China. Many of these Chinese wanted to strike it rich by coming to work in the states, and possibly find gold. They were to return to their hometown once they received the gold to live high with their families. Many of the Chinese did not strike it rich and lived in poverty for the majority of their lives. Discriminatory laws prevented most of the Chinese to establish families within the United States. This was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
Once the dreams of the gold rush lightened, the Chinese moved across the country, and gathered in Chinatowns throughout the United States. They were all poor neighborhoods where the majority of the residents were male. Chinese immigrants who ended up in Philadelphia came from New Jersey and San Francisco. There were very few work opportunities for the Chinese. They would have to operate hand laundries, run small specialty shops, and work in restaurants. A lot of the men would send the money home to their families, so they had little to live off of when working in the United States.
Due to the Japanese atrocities against China during the 1930’s, and the help from the United States during the World War II, the Chinese were viewed at a different stand point. This changed federal policies against the Chinese, and opened up many new job opportunities for them as well. Since the Chinese heard, saw, and sensed the changes that came with the news of Japanese bombardment of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Many grieved the loss of American soldiers on that day, and also the devastation that the war brought on their country, but they still toasted to the occasion because they knew they were paired with America during the Second World War.
The discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was lifted in 1943 from the Chinese. The immigration of their people was still limited by the national quota system, but they still had a door open to allow their friends and family to travel over. A lot of Chinese brought their wives and children over due to the war. This gave them the name, “war brides.” The community grew more and more as families started settling in Chinatown after the war. Many businesses, churches, as well as cultural organizations also grew with the Chinese for the Chinese, ran by the Chinese. This also helped to provide services for the growing families.
WELCOME TO Philadelphia Chinatown
"Chinese "Friendship Arch",
CHINATOWN HISTORY
During the late 1840’s, many Chinese laborers, mostly male, starting coming into the United States. They were drawn to the states due to the rumors and promises of higher wages. This was during the time of the civil war and economic stagnation in their home town of China. Many of these Chinese wanted to strike it rich by coming to work in the states, and possibly find gold. They were to return to their hometown once they received the gold to live high with their families. Many of the Chinese did not strike it rich and lived in poverty for the majority of their lives. Discriminatory laws prevented most of the Chinese to establish families within the United States. This was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
Once the dreams of the gold rush lightened, the Chinese moved across the country, and gathered in Chinatowns throughout the United States. They were all poor neighborhoods where the majority of the residents were male. Chinese immigrants who ended up in Philadelphia came from New Jersey and San Francisco. There were very few work opportunities for the Chinese. They would have to operate hand laundries, run small specialty shops, and work in restaurants. A lot of the men would send the money home to their families, so they had little to live off of when working in the United States.
Due to the Japanese atrocities against China during the 1930’s, and the help from the United States during the World War II, the Chinese were viewed at a different stand point. This changed federal policies against the Chinese, and opened up many new job opportunities for them as well. Since the Chinese heard, saw, and sensed the changes that came with the news of Japanese bombardment of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Many grieved the loss of American soldiers on that day, and also the devastation that the war brought on their country, but they still toasted to the occasion because they knew they were paired with America during the Second World War.
The discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was lifted in 1943 from the Chinese. The immigration of their people was still limited by the national quota system, but they still had a door open to allow their friends and family to travel over. A lot of Chinese brought their wives and children over due to the war. This gave them the name, “war brides.” The community grew more and more as families started settling in Chinatown after the war. Many businesses, churches, as well as cultural organizations also grew with the Chinese for the Chinese, ran by the Chinese. This also helped to provide services for the growing families.