Chinese immigration - 19th century
CHINESE IMPACT TOWARDS CANADA
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Chinese immigration was very impacting towards Canada. It affected Canada in a good way such as: employment, increased settlements, etc.... It also affected the people of Canada with increased racism towards the Chinese people such as: stealing in the Gold Rush, the implementation of the Head Tax, etc.... But, there was one thing that the Chinese majorly helped the development of Canada. That thing was the Canadian Pacific Railway (a.k.a. the C.P.R.). The Canadian Pacific Railway would have not been quickly and successfully built if the Chinese did not help the construction of the railway. After the creation of the C.P.R., there would be a problem. This problem would be the start of known racism to the Chinese people. As a result, there had been major impacts that affected Canada in development and politically.
When Prime Minister John A. McDonald decided to create a railway that connected British Columbia with the Dominion of Canada and Eastern Canada (this was in 1881), there were only 400 workers that would be able to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. As a result, Prime Minister John A. McDonald made this quote, "Either you must have this labour or you cannot have the railway." So, the prime minister decided the ethnic group for the labour to build the Canadian Pacific Railway would be the Chinese. Between 1881 to 1885, approximately 17,000 Chinese workers immigrated to Canada in order to work on the railway.
When Prime Minister John A. McDonald decided to create a railway that connected British Columbia with the Dominion of Canada and Eastern Canada (this was in 1881), there were only 400 workers that would be able to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. As a result, Prime Minister John A. McDonald made this quote, "Either you must have this labour or you cannot have the railway." So, the prime minister decided the ethnic group for the labour to build the Canadian Pacific Railway would be the Chinese. Between 1881 to 1885, approximately 17,000 Chinese workers immigrated to Canada in order to work on the railway.
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The Chinese group made up approximately 75% of the workforce in order to build the C.P.R. They would be working at the most dangerous and brutal jobs, while working for long hours under low wages (the range of the wages were from $0.75 to $1.25 per day for the Chinese people [however, the white people would work at less dangerous jobs for shorter hours with salaries ranging from $1.50 to $2.25 per day]). Some of the occupations that the Chinese had to do were: building roads and bridges, digging ditches, stringing telegraph wires, draining swamps, clearing land, fishing, mining, logging, and working with explosives. While working, the workers had low comfort due to the need to work under freezing temperatures, loneliness, homesickness, and the daily diet of rice and dried salmon. Due to the lack of vegetables and fruits consumption, malnutrition was very high. Although the work was dangerous, the Chinese still had to work in order to make a living for them (and their family back in China). This resulted in many deaths of Chinese people. Some accidents that caused deaths were: explosions, cold weather, rock slides, cave-ins, illnesses, harsh living conditions, scurvy, and malnutrition. Eventually on November 7 1885, the C.P.R. received its last spike by Donald Smith (a.k.a. Lord Strathcona). The historic event had no participating of the Chinese, but the Chinese were a major help with the construction of the legendary railway. Thanks to the Chinese, the construction of the C.P.R. was ahead of schedule by over 10 years.
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But, there was a problem. After the construction of the C.P.R., the former employees were left unemployed (as well as businesses left bankrupted after losing their sole purpose was to help supply the employees supplies. From the failing economy of B.C. as well as hosting the unemployed workers of the Canadian Pacific Railway, especially with Chinese workers, the province was in jeopardy. As a swift response, they implemented the Head Tax towards the Chinese people. The Head Tax was the first law that was against a ethnic group in Canada (and the start of the wave of laws against Chinese people). The Head Tax was a law that forced Chinese people to play $50 per entrance by a Chinese person. The purpose of the law was to discourage Chinese people to immigrate to Canada. But, that really didn't stop the immigration rates made by the Chinese. So, Canada made another adjustment to the Head Tax at the start of the 20th century (1900). The price raised to $100. But, the price raise had no major effect to immigration of the Chinese people. In 1903, the price was raised again to $500. The price made the immigration rate slow and steady. But, there was still immigration of Chinese people. From the Head Taxes to Chinese people, it also influenced countries to apply Head Taxes. Some countries included: the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. In 1923, there was the Chinese Immigration Act to further more disrupt Chinese Immigration. The act was basically denying Chinese people to come to Canada, unless they were merchants, students, or diplomats. Any trips to China that took longer than 2 years resulted in rejection to enter Canada. Also, registration of identification cards were made of any Chinese people entered to Canada, even if they were born in Canada. Eventually, the act was repealed in 1947, but the Head Tax was still in effect. Only until 2006 that the Head Tax was removed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Survivors that paid the Head Tax received $20,000 CAD as an act of apology.
Many impacts and things were done towards the Chinese people. The Chinese people had impacted Canada with immigration, followed by a major help in the construction of the C.P.R. After the construction of the railway, the government of Canada started to hate the Chinese immigrants. So, many laws were implemented against the Chinese to stop immigration and the activities/jobs for the Chinese people. Eventually, the government of Canada had to repeal the laws against Chinese as an act of apology. As a result, the Chinese people had major impacts towards Canada throughout time.
Many impacts and things were done towards the Chinese people. The Chinese people had impacted Canada with immigration, followed by a major help in the construction of the C.P.R. After the construction of the railway, the government of Canada started to hate the Chinese immigrants. So, many laws were implemented against the Chinese to stop immigration and the activities/jobs for the Chinese people. Eventually, the government of Canada had to repeal the laws against Chinese as an act of apology. As a result, the Chinese people had major impacts towards Canada throughout time.