Untold Stories from the Chinese Exclusion Act Files

For 61 years, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States and prevented those who did from becoming naturalized citizens. Applicants were questioned in detail at US ports of entry about their families and villages in China. This rich, biographical information is now accessible in Seattle, housed at the local office of the National Archives. Hear from National Archives' volunteer Trish Hackett Nicola about the valuable information found in these files, and from Cathy Lee about how the files helped her uncover her great aunt's story.

[@Hrairoo555]

When my distant related uncle in Watsonville, CA married a US born Chinese woman, he was planning that she could buy land for farming as he was barred from purchasing land as an alien Chinese. Unknowingly she ended up losing her citizenship. My understanding is in the fine print of the Cable Act of 1922, a woman could not be repatriated if she was married to non- eligible aliens, which included Asian men.

[@CarolineMYuzuk]

59.38 many Chinese went into Mexico when they were forced to leave, which would also be a logical reason why the previous speakers aunt had Mexican pesos and an item accounted for. This is a common conversation in Chicano Studies, Mexico was home to all kinds of people.

[@0animalproductworld558]

There are innocent people in every race. We cannot judge the whole race based on some events in history. I love all innocent people

[@johnnywalker2220]

Nice

[@f.puttstycker2784]

Photograph's? Who could afford a photo?

[@DanielEarth1]

The US government could.

[@Truth433]

Nothing had change in the US , Shame on these Anglo Saxons.

[@user-ib9op9kq2k]

Yep

[@rtang2165]

Yes, but this video left out the fact that the California legislature was dominated by Democrats who overwhelmingly voted for the racist policy of excluding Chinese. The 1917 racist act against Chinese was passed by the Democrats in charge of US Congress under the racist KKK champion Democratic President Woodrow Wilson. I T was Wilson who re-segregated the US Army in 1917 in spite of the fact Republican President U. S. Simpson Grant who integrated the US Army 35 years earlier. Such historical facts are well known to Chinese-American and the educated blacks and minorities citizens in the USA just fifty years ago. It was Republican President Eisenhower who spearheaded the abolition of such racism. He also opened up the US Military Academy to admit blacks into the ranks. It is the deliberate policy of the Democrats controlled Teachers Unions and regional School Boards to stop teaching historical facts to under-educate the population in the last 60 years.

[@incelsshoulddie2548]

The Republicans party is riddled with white supremacy and cowards like you are trying to point the finger in the other direction. The tables have turned. White supremacists are littrerally calling themselves Republicans and Republicans do not denounce them. Nobody who's a minority should EVER vote republican. And racist whites like you don't want people to know the truth but it's over Republicans are passing everyone off and you're about to lose any place in politics you have the party is about todie.

[@f.puttstycker2784]

What about miming?