Social Studies 8
Immigration - The Chinese Story
Chinese Canadians are one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. Despite their importance to the Canadian economy, including the historic construction of the CPR, many European Canadians were hostile to Chinese immigration, and a prohibitive head tax restricted immigration from 1885 to 1923.
- Anthony B. Chan, Historica |
Background Information
The Chinese began their immigration to BC in 1958 from California. The influx was caused by the discovery of gold which resulted in 5000 Chinese prospectors to settle in Barkerville by 1880. The Canadian Pacific Railway employed thousands of Chinese under appalling conditions. Many of those Chinese came from my family's home town of Taishan 台山.
The early Chinese settlers endured over 100 discriminatory laws that prevented them from fully participating in their communities. One of the most well known of these was the 1885 "Head" tax, an entry fee required before entrance to the country. To this day, the Chinese were the only people ever to have been required to pay for entry.
We will explore the cultural, political and social changes that resulted in the Chinese immigrants and how they helped shape Kamloops, our province, and our country.
The early Chinese settlers endured over 100 discriminatory laws that prevented them from fully participating in their communities. One of the most well known of these was the 1885 "Head" tax, an entry fee required before entrance to the country. To this day, the Chinese were the only people ever to have been required to pay for entry.
We will explore the cultural, political and social changes that resulted in the Chinese immigrants and how they helped shape Kamloops, our province, and our country.