The Chinese Must Go : Violence, Exclusion, and the Making of the Alien in America

The American West erupted in anti-Chinese violence in 1885. Following the massacre of Chinese miners in Wyoming Territory, communities throughout California and the Pacific Northwest harassed, assaulted, and expelled thousands of Chinese immigrants. Beth Lew-Williams shows how American immigration policies incited this violence and how the violence, in turn, provoked new exclusionary policies. Ultimately, Lew-Williams argues, Chinese expulsion and exclusion produced the concept of the “alien” in modern America. __The Chinese Must Go__ begins in the 1850s, before federal border control established strict divisions between citizens and aliens. Across decades of felling trees and laying tracks in the American West, Chinese workers faced escalating racial conflict and unrest. In response, Congress passed the Chinese Restriction Act of 1882 and made its first attempt to bar immigrants based on race and class. When this unprecedented experiment in federal border control failed to slow Chinese migration, vigilantes attempted to take the matter into their own hands. Fearing the spread of mob violence, U.S. policymakers redoubled their efforts to keep the Chinese out, overhauling U.S. immigration law and transforming diplomatic relations with China. By locating the origins of the modern American alien in this violent era, Lew-Williams recasts the significance of Chinese exclusion in U.S. history. As __The Chinese Must Go__ makes clear, anti-Chinese law and violence continues to have consequences for today’s immigrants. The present resurgence of xenophobia builds mightily upon past fears of the “heathen Chinaman.” Winner of the Ray Allen Billington PrizeWinner of the Ellis W. Hawley PrizeWinner of the Sally and Ken Owens AwardWinner of the Vincent P. DeSantis Book PrizeWinner of the Caroline Bancroft History Prize“A powerful argument about racial violence that could not be more timely.”—Richard White“A riveting, beautifully written account...that foregrounds Chinese voices and experiences. A timely and important contribution to our understanding of immigration and the border.”—Karl Jacoby, author of Shadows at DawnIn 1885, following the massacre of Chinese miners in Wyoming Territory, communities throughout California and the Pacific Northwest harassed, assaulted, and expelled thousands of Chinese immigrants. The Chinese Must Go shows how American immigration policies incited this violence, and how this gave rise to the concept of the “alien” in America.Our story begins in the 1850s, before federal border control established strict divisions between citizens and aliens—and long before Congress passed the Chinese Restriction Act, the nation's first attempt to bar immigration based on race and class. When this unprecedented experiment failed to slow Chinese migration, armed vigilante groups took the matter into their own hands. Fearing the spread of mob violence, policymakers redoubled their efforts to seal the borders, overhauling immigration law and transforming America's relationship with China in the process. By tracing the idea of the alien back to this violent era, Lew-Williams offers a troubling new origin story of today's racialized border.“The Chinese Must Go shows how a country that was moving, in a piecemeal and halting fashion, toward an expansion of citizenship for formerly enslaved people and Native Americans, came to deny other classes of people the right to naturalize altogether...The stories of racist violence and community shunning are brutal to read.”—Rebecca Onion, Slate "The American West erupted in anti-Chinese violence in 1885. Following the massacre of Chinese miners in Wyoming Territory, communities throughout California and the Pacific Northwest harassed, assaulted, and expelled thousands of Chinese immigrants. Beth Lew-Williams shows how American immigration policies incited this violence and how the violence, in turn, provoked new exclusionary policies. Ultimately, Lew-Williams argues, Chinese expulsion and exclusion produced the concept of the 'alien' in modern America. The Chinese Must Go begins in the 1850s, before federal border control established strict divisions between citizens and aliens. Across decades of felling trees and laying tracks in the American West, Chinese workers faced escalating racial conflict and unrest. In response, Congress passed the Chinese Restriction Act of 1882 and made its first attempt to bar immigrants based on race and class. When this unprecedented experiment in federal border control failed to slow Chinese migration, vigilantes attempted to take the matter into their own hands. Fearing the spread of mob violence, U.S. policymakers redoubled their efforts to keep the Chinese out, overhauling U.S. immigration law and transforming diplomatic relations with China. By locating the origins of the modern American alien in this violent era, Lew-Williams recasts the significance of Chinese exclusion in U.S. history. As The Chinese Must Go makes clear, anti-Chinese law and violence continues to have consequences for today's immigrants. The present resurgence of xenophobia builds mightily upon pastfears of the 'heathen Chinaman.'"--Provided by publisher In 1882, The United States Launched An Unprecedented Experiment In Federal Border Control--which Promptly Failed. The Chinese Must Go Examines This Formative Moment When America's Lackluster Attempt To Bar Chinese Workers Provoked A Wave Of Anti-chinese Violence Across The U.s. West. In 1885 And 1886, White Vigilantes In Over 150 Communities Used Intimidation, Harassment, Bombs, Arson, Assault, And Murder To Drive Out Their Chinese Neighbors. This Little-known Outbreak Of Racial Violence Had Profound Consequences. Displacing Tens Of Thousands Of Chinese Immigrants, The Expulsions Reshaped America's Racial Geography. In Response, The Federal Government Not Only Overhauled U.s. Immigration Law, But Also Transformed Its Diplomatic Relations With China. The Chinese Must Go Recasts The History Of Chinese Exclusion And Its Importance For Modern America. During A Period Better Known For The Invention Of The Modern Citizen, The Chinese In America Defined What It Meant To Be An Alien. The Significance Of The Heathen Chinaman On American Law And Society Far Outlived Him.-- Introduction: The Violence Of Exclusion -- Part I. Restriction. The Chinese Question ; Experiments In Restriction -- Part Ii. Violence. The Banished ; The People ; The Loyal -- Part Iii. Exclusion. The Exclusion Consensus ; Afterlives Under Exclusion -- Epilogue: The Modern American Alien -- Appendix A Sites Of Anti-chinese Expulsions And Attempted Expulsions, 1885-1887 -- Appendix B Chinese Immigration To The United States, 1850-1904. Beth Lew-williams. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In 1882, the United States launched an unprecedented experiment in federal border control--which promptly failed. The Chinese Must Go examines this formative moment when America's lackluster attempt to bar Chinese workers provoked a wave of anti-Chinese violence across the U.S. West. In 1885 and 1886, white vigilantes in over 150 communities used intimidation, harassment, bombs, arson, assault, and murder to drive out their Chinese neighbors. This little-known outbreak of racial violence had profound consequences. Displacing tens of thousands of Chinese immigrants, the expulsions reshaped America's racial geography. In response, the federal government not only overhauled U.S. immigration law, but also transformed its diplomatic relations with China. The Chinese Must Go recasts the history of Chinese exclusion and its importance for modern America. During a period better known for the invention of the modern citizen, the Chinese in America defined what it meant to be an alien. The significance of the "heathen Chinaman" on American law and society far outlived him.-- Provided by publisher In 1882, the United States launched an unprecedented experiment in federal border control ... which promptly failed. The Chinese Must Go examines this formative moment when America's lackluster attempt to bar Chinese workers provoked a wave of anti-Chinese violence across the U.S. West. In 1885 and 1886, white vigilantes in over 150 communities used intimidation, harassment, bombs, arson, assault, and murder to drive out their Chinese neighbors. This little-known outbreak of racial violence had profound consequences. Displacing tens of thousands of Chinese immigrants, the expulsions reshaped America's racial geography. In response, the federal government not only overhauled U.S. immigration law, but also transformed its diplomatic relations with China. The Chinese Must Go recasts the history of Chinese exclusion and its importance for modern America. During a period better known for the invention of the modern citizen, the Chinese in America defined what it meant to be an alien. The significance of the "heathen Chinaman" on American law and society far outlived him .. Beth Lew-Williams shows how American immigration policies incited violence against Chinese workers, and how that violence provoked new exclusionary policies. Locating the origins of the modern American "alien" in this violent era, she makes clear that the present resurgence of xenophobia builds mightily upon past fears of the "heathen Chinaman." Contents Introduction: The Violence of Exclusion PART 1. Restriction The Chinese Question Experiments in Restriction Part 2. Violence The Banished The People The Loyal Part 3. Exclusion The Exclusion Consensus Afterlives Under Exclusion Epilogue. The Modern American Alien Appendix A Appendix B Abbreviations Notes Acknowledgments Index