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First Five Chinese American Groups


1) List at least three major differences between the five Asian immigrant groups? (For this question I am looking more of generalizations, not specifics to each ethnic group-that's #3.  Also, this is from the course materials, not generalizations like language, culture, point of emigration).

2) What three similarities do they share? (What commonalities do you see that run through 3 or more ethnic groups if we are talking about their experiences?) 

3) Illustrate ONE specific trait that belongs to each ethnic group (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipinos and Asian Indians). Something that is distinctly part of their own experience. (push or pull factor, demographic difference, immigrant status, immigration period).



  1.  Differences. The numbers varied quite a lot among the first five Asian immigrant groups - from only about 6400 Asian Indians to over 380,000 Chinese. Also, the times in which each group came also differed, partly due to situations in the group's originating Asian country and to US regulations and trade factors. Finally, the gender imbalance was also heavier with the Chinese than with the other groups, due both to trade-legal issues and to cultural restrictions that kept women "at home". Religion also varied, with Filipinos being mostly Catholic and Koreans being mostly Christian. 
  2. The three similarities these first 5 Asian groups shared include poverty (whether due to lack of a central government or due to re-structuring from occupation, taxes), famine (disasters, wars), and being seen as "strangers" or "aliens" in the new country - and the vast majority, essentially, as lower class laborers. 

  • Chinese - The Chinese were the only group that was affected by the British Opium Wars, which would undermine the Qing Dynasty.
  • Japanese - The Meiji Restoration period made the Japanese the only group with a strong centralized government with a strategic "manifest destiny" of their own to encourage emigration. 
  • Filipinos - They were the only group that was already a US territory.
  • Koreans - They were under Japanese occupation in the first 20 years of the 20th century, which made the living conditions insufferable in Korea. 
  • Asian Indians - They were the smallest group to come in during the first 20 years of the 20th century, and primarily to the mainland (after Canada would deny them) with their wives unwelcomed.

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