Record Detail

People of Sacramento Archive

Caption: The first Chinese immigrants faced overt discrimination.

Date: circa 1880

Historical Context: From the time the first Chinese immigrants arrived in California and the Sacramento area, discrimination against them was overt. Laws were passed that levied taxes against Chinese miners, as well as any people of "color" including Blacks, Chileans, Mexicans, and French. The Chinese miners were the victims of much violence. White miners tried to force them out of the gold fields and, hence, out of competition for the lands' bounty. Forced out of gold mining, they moved to the towns where they faced discriminating laws that restricted where they could live, how they could run their own businesses, what type of jobs they could be hired to do, and even where their dead could be buried.

Ethnic Group: Chinese

Place: Sutter County

Events: n.a.

Names/Biographical Data: Unidentified

Key Words: portrait, pressure, discrimination

Image Number: To see a larger version of this picture, see image number 3227 and select the full-size image.

Objects/Items of Note: Formal pose, traditional Chinese dress.

Image Credit: SMHD, Sacramento Valley Photography Survey, Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County Collection