Ourgrations

CHINA: Looking Beyond the Wall

There are many who flock to the People's Republic of China every year to take a look at the Great Wall. Originally built to defend the dynasty from Hun invasion, the Great Wall has become the greatest tourist attraction in China, and is known around the entire world. They say that many died during its construction, their bodies lost forever inside the wall; but there are many more who feel trapped in a different sense. There are men and women who are looking beyond the wall, envisioning a new life in another land. Though there are many countries that the Chinese move to, I will focus soley on Chinese emmigration to the United States.

IMMIGRATION—A Brief History

America has always been seen as a place of safe haven for immigrants around the world. It is a country built upon dreams for freedom and prosperity and is truly a melting pot of culture and diversity. The Chinese added their culture to the mix mostly during the second and fourth major waves of immigration in the United States (1820-1870 and 1965 forward, respectively).

During the mid 1800’s, talk of a Gold Rush reached the orient, bringing in many sojourners from China. To sojourn is “to reside temporarily,” (dictionary.com, result 2) and that was just what they intended to do. The Chinese who came to America at the time were seeking to strike it rich and return home to their families. Many Americans were upset by this, and the Chinese were ridiculed and looked down upon. In the late 1870’s there was an increased violence towards the Chinese immigrants who were here. They were accused of lowering wages and of unfair business competition, and California citizens demanded laws to be made to keep the Chinese out of the country. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by congress, prohibiting any Chinese laborers from entering the United States. Because of the persecution they faced, many Chinese immigrants came together to form safe havens of their own—thus Chinatowns became a prominent part of the Chinese-American life. Chinatowns were great places for incoming immigrants who needed to know how to start their new lives in America. They also provided a place to worship traditionally, buy traditional Chinese food and ingredients, and were a great place to go to hear about news in the home country. Chinatowns helped to provide employment because they hired many Chinese who couldn’t find jobs anywhere else. Eventually they became good tourist attractions as well, and the Chinese were able to make good money from tourists passing through (loc.gov, slides 7-8).

It seemed like the door to the United States would be closed to China forever; however, immigration laws were eased after World War II, and the ban against Chinese immigration was lifted since they had become our allies in the war. In 1965, amendments were passed that “produced major changes in patterns of immigration to the United States” and the percentage “of immigrants from Asia and the West Indies leaped dramatically” (World Book 10: 83). According to the 2000 census, there are now approximately 2.3 million Chinese living in the United States (mongabay.com, par. 3).

WHY LEAVE?

I can understand a need to move across a town, city, state, or country; but what is it that compels a person to leave home and travel across the world? Why is America so special? Through much research on China, I have found four main issues that may be the cause for Chinese immigration in the United States: Family, prosperity, health, and education.

FAMILY

One fifth of the world’s people live in China, concentrated mostly in the Eastern half of the country. This population is a great resource, but is also a great burden. China’s work force could make it the most powerful economy in the world, but it won’t happen unless China can limit its population growth. Right now, there are more children being born than can adequately be provided for. Because of this, men cannot marry until they are twenty-two years old, and women twenty; however, it is highly encouraged not to marry until the late twenties and to have no more than two children.

Though China has come a long way from killing daughters in order to have sons and killing extra children in a family, it is still highly frowned upon to have more than two children. Husbands and wives who desire to have a bigger family can be seen as unpatriotic and disloyal to their country. For those who want more children, the United States can be seen as the solution to their problems—there are no laws to limit the number of children a family can have. Also, there are enough resources to sufficiently provide for a growing population, and there is more living space as well.

PROSPERITY

The People’s Republic of China is currently under rule by the Chinese Communist Party. In a communist community, the government decides where you work, how long you work, where you live, and how much you are paid. There are many who must work in manufacturing and mining, the greatest source of income for the country with the third greatest amount of workers. The Chinese economy has been on the rise since 1949 and “has been in a state of transition since the late 1970’s” (Britannica 16: 53). China has one of the world’s largest economies, with one of the greatest GDP’s (gross domestic product—the value of all goods and services it produces in a year); however, it ranks lower than half of the world per capita (per person).

America has long been seen as the land of the free. The American dream has always been for a better life—to literally to go from rags to riches. The U.S. government allows for individuals to choose their careers and where they live. For a Chinese immigrant, this can be seen as a great advantage. The people who immigrate to the United States from communist countries like China are amazed at the vast number of options and opportunities available to everyone. There are few hindrances to individual success for the man who perserveres.

HEALTH

Health in China is much better than it used to be. Since 1949, life expectancy has gone up by about thirty years and now ranks closely to the level of life expectancy in advanced industrial countries. “By the mid 1990’s the major causes [for death among the Chinese] had become pulmonary and cerebrovascular diseases, malignant tumors, and cardiac disease” (Britannica 16: 63). Today, “severe environmental pollution has become a major health hazard in several parts of the country” (Britannica 16: 63).

The United States has wonderful health care, available all over the nation to anyone who needs it. There are cancer treatment centers, heart centers, and other hospitals that specialize in the care of certain disorders and diseases in specific regions of the body, or in different genders, or there are even places just for children or for senior citizens. No matter what is wrong or who you are, there is a place to go when you are sick. Also, pollution is not nearly as much of a problem as it is in other countries, mostly because there are certain regulations in place to keep air and water pollution at a minimum for the health and safety of the country’s citizens. The ability the United States has to preserve and lengthen life is an attractive feature to anyone wanting to migrate and build a better future.

EDUCATION

The students in Chinese universities are among the brightest in the entire world. That is because Asian schooling is rigorous, and only the best of the best can continue to a higher level. “The overall trend in Chinese education is toward fewer students and higher scholastic standards, resulting in a steeply hierarchal educational system” (Britannica 16: 63). Only a third of primary students receive any secondary education, and less than two percent ever attend a regular university. Since 1977, admission to a university in China has been based on competitive nationwide examinations. And although the government usually pays for the schooling, the university student must “accept the job provided by the state upon graduation” (Britannica 16: 63).

Once again, the United States provides a better life for those who are looking for one. In America, education is required for all children under the age of eighteen and is optional after the age of sixteen (with parental consent). Public schools are set up everywhere for the education of children in every city and state across the nation. There are also finishing schools, technical and state colleges, as well as highly esteemed universities available for higher education after high school. The greatest part is that education is available for all who desire it. Education may not be paid for by the government, but at least each student can decide what to study and where to work afterwards.

CONCLUSION

The Chinese have been searching for a better life in America since the mid 1800’s and continue to come here today. Family, prosperity, health, and education are four distinct yet interrelated issues that may be the reason for much of the U.S. immigration we see. The people who come to America can live where they want, work when and where they want, and can have as big a family as they desire. There is better health care which is more widely available, and education is necessary for all children. Higher education is available to all who want it and can open the doors to more desirable careers. With all that has been said, it is easy to see why the Chinese continue to go beyond the wall, seeking a better life in America.

Works Cited

Butler, Rhett. “Number of People of Chinese Origin in the U.S.” Mongabay.com. 2007. 07 April 2008. <http://names.mongabay.com/ancestry/Chinese.html>.

“China.” The New Encyclopædia Britannica. 15th ed. Vol. 16. Encylopædia Britannica, 2007.

“China.” The World Book Encyclopedia. Vol. 3 & 10. World Book, 2008.

“Chinese.” Immigration… 01 September 2003. 07 April 2008. <http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/chinese.html>.

"Sojourn." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 4th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Dictionary.com. 07 April 2008. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sojourn>.