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Immigration
The United States Grows
(1865-1900)
 The Chinese Exclusion Act

The Chinese Exclusion Act
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 6 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   8.38

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    dynamite, immigration, ally, transcontinental, resent, ending, discrimination, federal, mining, discriminate, port, better, repeal, affected, banned, broad
     content words:    Gold Rush, Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, Central Pacific Railroad Company, Sierra Nevada Mountains, United States, Chinese Exclusion Act, When President Chester A., Exclusion Act, Geary Act

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The Chinese Exclusion Act
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     In 1848, Chinese immigrants began arriving in America. Laborers who had not been able to earn a good living in China heard about the Gold Rush in California, and they came to America. They boarded ships and crossed the Pacific Ocean. Many arrived at the port of San Francisco in California.
 
2     Year after year, more immigrants came from China to America. Some still hoped to find gold. Others just wanted a job.
 
3     In the 1860s, many of these Chinese immigrants found jobs with the Central Pacific Railroad Company. They were hired to help build the western half of the transcontinental railroad. It was a job that required great strength and stamina. The men laid tracks through some of the most difficult terrain of the whole project - the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Often they worked in the cold and the snow. They had to blast through the mountains with dynamite. It was dangerous work.
 
4     Other Chinese immigrants found jobs in the cities. Although the better jobs were often not open to them, many found low-paying jobs in restaurants and laundries.

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