Case Study of Chinese Exclusion Act Enforcement

Publisher： National Council for the Social Studies

ISSN： 0037-7724

Source： Social Education, Vol.76, Iss.6, 2012-11, pp. : 306-311

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

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Abstract

Lesson suggestions: This story is derived from the case files concerning Chinese immigration of the Seattle office of The National Archives and Records Administration. The related lesson presents several role playing opportunities: both the interviews conducted at the time this family arrived in Seattle and the questioning of Yee Quong Yuen (hereafter referred to as Quong) carried out in Denver. The presence of bilingual students providing the testimony in Chinese (or other languages could be substituted), along with the role of an interpreter would lend additional reality to a role play. Selected portions of the readings— Introduction, Conditions of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1909 (or the Timeline of the Chinese Exclusion Act)—may be handed out as a preliminary reading for the entire class and used as reference material during the discussion. Questions for discussion are included. Groups can be assigned to play the role of immigration authorities and members of the Chinese community to discuss next step possibilities after the arrival of the family and the apprehension of Quong. Additional questions may be assigned for further research, such as anniversary activities relating to this Act and its enforcement, changes made in immigration policy since then, size of Chinese and Chinese American community in the United States at this time, current issues concerning immigration policies and others.