The Civil Of Chinese Immigrants On The Transcontinental...

Migrating to America in search of new opportunities, sadly, the Chinese were referred to as Chinks and coolies. Throughout history, Americans have been in debt to immigrant groups, like the Chinese, who were the only ones willing to do the most dangerous and underpaid work. Yet, Americans have been the most hostile towards the Chinese—the only racial group ever to face an Exclusion Act. During the 19th century, 80,000 Chinese immigrants arrived in the United States during the Gold Rush, but they found no gold—only nativists who did not want them there. So, instead of mining, many Chinese settled for odd jobs and labored on the Transcontinental Railroad, a previously unparalleled project to connect the American West Coast with the American†¦show more content†¦However, Charles Crocker, one of the Big Four investors of the railroad, became so desperate for labor that he convinced Strobridge to try and hire the Chinese: â€Å"They built the Great Wall. They can d o it† (Elish). Finally, in 1863, the Chinese, who were believed to be inferior to whites, were given the opportunity to work on the Transcontinental Railroad. In the end, hiring the Chinese was a very wise decision because they were the cheapest and they worked the hardest. Despite many Chinese being under five feet and only weighing 120 pounds, the Chinese impressed Crocker: â€Å"They couldn’t dig as much dirt with a single swing, but they worked methodically without talking or taking breaks...by the end of day one, [the Chinese] had covered as much distance as the all-white groups and the job was done more carefully† (Elish). Charles Crocker was recorded as saying that, â€Å"Wherever we put [the Chinese], we found them good,† as well as, â€Å"...they worked themselves into our favor to such an extent that if we found we were in a hurry for a job of work, it was better to put Chinese on at once† (American Experience: TV’s Most-Watched History Series). In other words, the Chinese proved themselves to be the most punctual and willing and diligent group. In American History: The Transcontinental Railroad , it is explained that the Chinese had the best habits. They always drank hot tea, which killed offShow MoreRelatedEssay on Nothing Like It in the World by Stephen E. Ambrose1210 Words   |  5 PagesNothing like it in the Word, by Stephen E. Ambrose The book, Nothing like It in the Word: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869, by Stephen E. Ambrose, is a concise account of the endeavors of individuals who participated in the construction of the first American transcontinental railroad (1863-1869), such as the immigrant laborers, politicians, and businesspersons and their companies. 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