The first Chinese immigrants arrived in San Francisco in the 1840s due to poverty in China and to work on the transcontinental railway. They faced significant racism and discrimination from Americans, including taxes and restrictions on marriage and citizenship. This led the Chinese to establish Chinatowns for safety and community. While Chinatowns faced early hardships, the one in San Francisco remains a prominent tourist area today with hundreds of Chinese restaurants and shops.

1. Chinatown San Francisco By Kitty, Bryony and Sandra

2. The first Chinese immigrants on a boat to San Francisco.

3. What were the circumstances of this migration ? In the 1840s there was a large number of Chinese immigrants who had immigrated to San Francisco. The reasons for this immigration were : To work on the transcontinental railway To escape the poverty stricken China Also due to the war that was taking place causing tragedies

4. Chinese in San Francisco Chinatown when it was first being established.

5. What were the consequences of this migration for the people involved? The immigrants faced lots of hatred, racism and discrimination from the American citizens. The Chinese had to pay taxes, were not allowed to marry white European partners and at first could not apply for American citizenship. The Chinese people found it hard to adjust to American cultures while staying faithful to their beliefs. In 1882, the Chinese exclusion act (Americas first racial restriction law) came in to practise, and Chinese-American population fell drastically.

6. Chinese men working in a laundry in America.

7. What were the consequences of this migration for the places involved? The majority of the Chinese lived in a special community called Chinatown. This was a place where all Chinese could live together in a community where they were not discriminated against. Here they set up businesses selling Chinese foods and products. Chinatown still remains in San Francisco and is a major tourist attraction with over 300 hundred Chinese restaurants and hundreds of shops.