A Chronology of Chinese-Americans

1880

United States and China sign a treaty on November 17 by which the United States has the right to "regulate, limit, or suspend " immigration of laborers from China.

1882

Chinese Exclusion Act is passed on May 6. It suspends for 10 years all immigration of Chinese laborers, but immigration from China reaches all-time high of nearly 40,000, dropping the following year to 8,000. Total number of Chinese during 1868-1882 period is more than 200,000.

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (or Six Companies) is founded in San Francisco

1883

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association is founded in New York.

1884

Half of the farm workers in California are Chinese.

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association creates a Chinese language school in San Francisco.

United Chinese Society is established in Honolulu.

The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Law is amended to require a certificate as the sole permissible evidence for reentry.

1885

An anti-Chinese violence breaks out in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

1886

Yick v. Hopkins annuls a California law that discriminates against Chinese laundrymen.

1887

Only ten Chinese are admitted to the United States.

1888

The Scott Act provides that Chinese laborers who left the United States are prohibited to return. The law revises the Act of 1882 permitting Chinese to return to the United States under certain conditions.

1889

Chae Chan Ping v. United States upholds Chinese exclusion laws constitutional.

1890

There are 107,488 Chinese residing in the United States according to the census report.

1891

The first Chinese and English bi-lingual newspapers begins publication in San Francisco.

1892

Geary Chinese Exclusion Act extends exclusion for 10 years. It requires Chinese laborers to register and provides for deportation of those not specifically allowed to stay in the United States.

1893

On March 26, 67 Chinese illegally enter Portland, Oregon from Vancouver Canada.

Fong Yue Ting v. United States upholds the Geary Act constitutional.

First Chinese is deported from San Francisco for non registration under Chinese Exclusion Act on August 10.

1894

Dr. Sun Yat-sen formed Hsing Chung Hui (Revive China Society), the first revolutionary party of China, in Hawaii. The society later beame Tung Meng Hui (Alliance Society) and in 1912 was reorganized as Kuomingtang (Nationalist Party).

The Gresham-Yang Treaty allows Chinese holding valid reentry certificate to return to U.S.

Loo Kum Shu establishes telephone switchboard or exchange for Chinese subscribers in San Francisco. It is operated by three Chinese. The exchange is the "China" central office of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company.

1895

The Native Sons of the Golden State is founded, later becoming the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACC).

1898

When Hawaii is annexed to the United States, Congress makes all the anti-Chinese laws applicable to that territory and prohibits Chinese living in Hawaii moving to U.S. mainland.

In Wong Kim Ark v. U.S. case, the Supreme Court decides native citizenship without respect to race or color and a child born of Chinese parents in the United States a United States citizen.

1899

Hua Mei Hsin Pao (Chinese American Weekly) begins publication in San Francisco. In 1900, it becomes a daily, later changed to Chung Sai Yat Pao.

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