ad no money to return home. “Many landed such jobs as farm workers, domestic servants, cooks, common laborers, laundry, and cannery workers” (Groliers). Some of them came out better off landing jobs as labor contractors, merchants, and restaurant operators. “Those remaining became grocers, herbalists, interpreters, and letter writers to cater to the needs of their fellow countrymen”(Groliers). Many of the Chinese laborers were part of the railroad crews that built several railroads including the transcontinental railroad between 1865 and 1869. “In 1867, two thousand Chinese railroad workers decided to strike for a week” (Chan 92). At it’s peak, more than 10,000 Chinese workers worked on the transcontinental railroad. One of the biggest problems the Chinese had to face here was having very few rights if any rights at all. They endured racism and discrimination from a lot of people and there we no laws to help them. There was no aspect of their lives that was left unaffected. The San Francisco school system was segregated, and with all the racial tension, San Francisco opened a school for Chinese children in 1857. After years of Anti-Chinese violence in San Francisco and Los Angeles, the school closed in 1871. The anger carried over into the workplace. Many people felt that the Chinese were taking all of the opportunities and jobs. The Chinese were hit especially hard during the economic depression. Many would refer to Asians as Chinks and tell them to go back to where they came from. The Chinese were blamed for causing the economic decline and were in some cases beaten and killed. “Violence against Asians surfaced in the early 1850’s” (Chan 48). It was especially hard for the Chinese because they were not allowed to testify against non-Chinese in court. Many Chinese were attacked during the Anti-Chinese movement. So many of the assailants were not prosecute...
