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Question

did ethnic enclaves have a positive or negative impact on immigrants in the late 1800s? Provide evidence (quote) to support your response. ( find one positive and one negative quote )

Write in a 8th grader’s response in 10 sentences. Include ethnic enclaves, job shortages, famine and push and pull factors

The Chinatown and Little Italy Historic District is located in downtown New York City. The Chinatown neighborhood was formed from the mid-19th to the early 20th century, a dynamic period in American history when waves of immigrants from all corners of the world came to New York seeking opportunity. Immigration to New York City far outweighed that in any other city in the United States and New York City’s Chinatown eventually became the largest Chinatown in the U.S.

History
Before the 1800s, immigration from Asia to the U.S. was minimal. During the 19th century, however, the U.S. experienced mass migrations of immigrants from several Asian countries, particularly China. Multiple factors triggered this large-scale immigration. In 1848, gold was discovered in California and throughout the 1850s Chinese were recruited as a major source of labor for the mines. Many Chinese also immigrated during this period to escape the Taiping Rebellion, a large-scale civil war that encompassed most of Southern China. In the 1860s, Chinese were recruited in large numbers from both China and the U.S. western mining industry to help build the Central Pacific Railroad's portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

By the 1870s, the U.S. economy was in a post-Civil War decline. The country experienced a series of economic crises starting with the Panic of 1873. The deflation and depression that followed caused wage levels to fall and many Americans to lose their jobs. In the West, white laborers found themselves competing for scarce jobs with Chinese immigrants who would work for lower wages. This led to rising resentment among the white population. Political and labor leaders began to use Chinese immigrants as scapegoats, blaming them for declining wages and high unemployment, and accusing them of being morally corrupt. Mob violence and rampant discrimination began to drive many Chinese immigrants east to larger cities such as New York, where there were more job opportunities and the population was more diverse.

During the 1870s, the Chinese in New York City began to concentrate around Mott Street south of Canal Street. Many Chinese men left wives to come to America, hoping to get rich and return later. As the Chinese quarter started growing the residents, almost exclusively men, began to form various social societies. These societies along with native place and family associations became an important lifeline for the residents of Chinatown.
By 1880, Chinatown was home to between 700 and 1,100 Chinese immigrants. The passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which restricted Chinese immigration, slowed Chinatown’s growth. The U.S. Congress passed other exclusionary laws aimed at Chinese immigrants between 1888 and 1902, effectively reducing the number of Chinese entering the country.

By the 1890s, Mott and Pell streets were lined with Chinese restaurants, which became popular with the non-Chinese residents of New York City. Joss houses, an American name for incense-filled Taoist shrines, were a fixture in Chinatown. In 1893, Actor Chu Fong opened the Chinese Opera House at 5-7 Doyers Street, the first Chinese-language theater east of San Francisco. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) purchased the building at 16 Mott Street, and this was considered the city hall of Chinatown. The organization meditated disputes, acted as middlemen in business transactions, and advocated for the rights of Chinese and Chinese Americans.

Answer 1

Ethnic enclaves like Chinatown and Little Italy had both positive and negative impacts on immigrants in the late 1800s. One positive effect was that these neighborhoods provided a sense of community and support. As stated, "These societies along with native place and family associations became an important lifeline for the residents of Chinatown." This means that immigrants could find help and friendship among others from their home country, making it easier to adapt to life in America.

However, there were also negative aspects of living in these enclaves. Many immigrants faced job shortages as the U.S. economy declined after the Civil War, which led to resentment from American workers. It was said that "white laborers found themselves competing for scarce jobs with Chinese immigrants who would work for lower wages." This competition created tension and sometimes resulted in violence against Chinese immigrants. The push factors, like famine and civil war, forced many to leave their home countries, while the pull factors, such as job opportunities in the U.S., drew them here.

Although ethnic enclaves offered a place for immigrants to connect and create businesses, they often isolated them from the broader community. In summary, while these neighborhoods helped immigrants feel at home, they also highlighted the struggles they faced in a new country filled with challenges.