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Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans

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In 1882, the United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, a law that barred Chinese laborers from entering the country for ten years. This law was the culmination of years of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States, and it had a devastating impact on the Chinese American community.

Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans

by Jean Pfaelzer

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4595 KB
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Print length	:	434 pages

Over the next thirty years, more than 100,000 Chinese Americans were forced to leave the United States. Families were torn apart, businesses were destroyed, and communities were shattered. The Chinese Exclusion Act was a dark chapter in American history, and it is a story that has been largely forgotten.

In her new book, Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans, Erika Lee tells the stories of the Chinese immigrants who were forced to leave the United States. She draws on letters, diaries, and other primary sources to create a vivid and moving account of the Chinese Exclusion Act and its impact on the Chinese American community.

Lee's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of Chinese Americans and the fight for civil rights in the United States. It is a powerful and moving reminder of the dark side of American history, and it is a story that we must never forget.

The Chinese Exclusion Act

The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by the United States Congress on May 6, 1882. The law barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States for ten years, and it made it illegal for Chinese immigrants who were already in the United States to become naturalized citizens.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was the culmination of years of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States. Chinese immigrants were seen as a threat to American jobs and wages, and they were often blamed for social problems such as crime and prostitution.

The Chinese Exclusion Act had a devastating impact on the Chinese American community. Over the next thirty years, more than 100,000 Chinese Americans were forced to leave the United States. Families were torn apart, businesses were destroyed, and communities were shattered.

The Chinese American Experience

The Chinese American experience is a complex and multifaceted one. Chinese immigrants have faced discrimination and prejudice throughout their history in the United States, but they have also made significant contributions to American society.

Chinese immigrants have played a vital role in the development of the United States. They have helped to build railroads, mine gold, and establish businesses. They have also made significant contributions to American culture, including food, music, and art.

Today, Chinese Americans are an important part of the American fabric. They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, and business owners. They are also artists, writers, and musicians. Chinese Americans have made significant contributions to American society, and they continue to play a vital role in the nation's future.

Erika Lee

Erika Lee is a professor of history at the University of Minnesota. She is the author of several books on Chinese American history, including At America's Gates: Chinese Immigration During the Exclusion Era, 1882-1943 and The Making of Asian America: A History.

Lee's work has been praised for its scholarship and its insights into the Chinese American experience. She is a leading expert on Chinese American history, and her work has helped to shed light on this important chapter in American history.

Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans

by Jean Pfaelzer

4.7 out of 5