Lesson 2: Immigration

Key Idea

In the late 1800s, California’s population grew very fast. A huge wave of immigration brought people from the eastern United States, Europe, Latin America, and especially Asia. This created a diverse population.

Many people left their home countries because of push factors, such as hunger or war. They were drawn to California by pull factors, specifically the hope for jobs building railroads or working on farms. Families moved in search of a safer and better life.

Key Idea

Many immigrants came to California hoping for a better life, but they often faced great challenges.

Some people treated them unfairly because they were different, which is called discrimination. It was also hard to find good jobs or learn a new language.

Key Idea

Not everyone in California welcomed new immigrants. Some people held unfair beliefs about others because of their race. This racism led to the poor treatment of many immigrants, especially those from China and Japan.

This discrimination took many forms. Asian immigrants were often paid less money and were forced to live in separate neighborhoods, like Chinatowns. At times, this unfairness turned into violent attacks on their homes and businesses.

Key Idea

As more immigrants arrived, some Americans passed unfair laws to stop immigration from Asia. In 1882, the U.S. government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This law banned most workers from China from entering the country.

Later, in 1907, the U.S. made a deal with Japan called the Gentlemen's Agreement. Japan agreed to limit the number of its people moving to the U.S. In return, California stopped separating Japanese children into different schools.