Social Impacts
			CHINESE IMMIGRANTS:
				“If the social conditions prevailing in California in the days of ’49 are recalled, it is not difficult to realize how welcome were the Chinese who first came to the country. Here were men who would do the drudgery of life at a reasonable wage when every other man had but one idea—to work at the mines for gold. Here were cooks, laundrymen, and servants ready and willing. Just what early California civilization most wanted these men could and would supply. “ ~Henry Kittredge Norton, Historian, 1924 “The Chinaman was welcomed as long as the surface gold was plentiful enough to make rich all who came. But that happy situation was not long to continue. Thousands of Americans came flocking in to the mines. Rich surface claims soon became exhausted… These gold-seekers were disappointed. In the bitterness of their disappointment they turned upon the men of other races who were working side by side with them and accused them of stealing their wealth. They boldly asserted that California’s gold belonged to them.” ~ H.K. Norton • Resented by some racist whites because of competition for jobs, resentment echoed by CA legislature. • By 1852 racist miners had driven 100s from Columbia, Yuba City, Horseshoe Bar, Mormon Bar and other diggings • Despite racism, they greatly influenced California and America in turn o Worked as cooks, cigar makers, restaurateurs, vegetable farmers, fortune tellers, and merchants o Opened the first Chinese church and Chinese newspaper in America, theaters, gambling halls, temples and laundries • Huge role in agricultural development in California by building levees and planting
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