CRE 151: Building the transcontinental Railroad: How 20,000 Chinese Immigrants Made it Happen

 Building the transcontinental Railroad: How 20,000 Chinese Immigrants Made it Happen

Railroad companies believed that Chinese immigrants were not suited for this work

1)      But the 15,000 to 20,000 proved them wrong, but their contributions are mostly ignored by history.

2)      Chinese came to America in significant numbers during California Gold rush of 1848-1855

3)      But when Central Pacific Railroad director Charles Crocker tried to hire white laborers only a few hundred responded

a.      So they recommended hiring Chinese workers

4)      Plan hit opposition amid anti-Chinese sentiment

a.      Construction superintendent James Strobridge didn’t think immigrants strong enough to do the job.

b.      Desparate for labor, they ignored the prejudice and relented..

c.      Might have been the idea of Crocker’s servant

d.      The first crew of 21 Chinese workers began work in January 1864

e.      They proved their worth, and therefore in jan 1865, they hired 50 more, then 50 more

f.        White workers remained reluctant to do this backbreaking, hazardous work..even as demand for labor increased

g.       By 1865 the majority of the railroad labor force were Chinese

                                                              i. Impossible to complete the western portion without their labor

h.      More Chinese immigrants arriving in California, and two years, they accounted for 90 percent of the workers

5)      Hong Kong and China were close in travel time as the eastern U.S.

a.      The Irish made uyp the majority of the Pacific workforce laying tracks westward from Omaha Neb

b.      Did not come out to California in large numbers until after the completion of the Transcontinental

6) Chinese laborers did the unskilled labor in blacksmithing, tunneling, and carpentry—most worked with hand tools.

7)      They were ill-treated, and not well compensated -paid about $26 dollars a month for working six days a week

8)      Eventually, they went on 8 day strike in June of 1867

9)      Chinese received 30-50% less than whites doing the same job, and often had to pay for their own foodstuffs

10)  They did the most difficult and dangerous work, including tunneling and using explosives.

11)  Faced physical abuse at times from supervisors

12) They protested these long hours and used their collective strength to challenge the company.

13)  Srike ended without pay parity after Central Pacific cut off food, transportation and supplies to the Chinese living in camps

14)  But the strike was not without any victory as working conditions did improve following the stike

15)  this history is often ignored.