Chicago's ChinatownChicago's Chinatown

CHICAGO’S CHINATOWNCHICAGO’S CHINATOWN BRAINSTORMINGBRAINSTORMING (WHAT DO WE KNOW?) (WHAT DO WE KNOW?) Where exactly is Chinatown?Where exactly is Chinatown? Are there other Chinatown’s in Chicago?Are there other Chinatown’s in Chicago?

If yes, then where?If yes, then where?

What What pushedpushed the Chinese out of China? the Chinese out of China? What What pulledpulled the Chinese to America and the Chinese to America and

then to Chicago?then to Chicago? What What foodsfoods are served in Chinatown? are served in Chinatown? What is your What is your signsign according to the according to the

Chinese calendar?Chinese calendar?

DemographicsDemographics Chicago’s Chinatown is on the Chicago’s Chinatown is on the near South Side near South Side and considered and considered

an ethnic-Chinese neighborhoodan ethnic-Chinese neighborhood

Centered by Centered by 2222ndnd St. and on St. and on CermakCermak and and WentworthWentworth Avenues. Avenues.

Chicago, IL: holds the title for the Chicago, IL: holds the title for the 1717thth city that host the largest city that host the largest amount of Chinese-Americans: amount of Chinese-Americans: – Hawaii (Honolulu)Hawaii (Honolulu)– California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose)California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose)– New York (Manhattan)New York (Manhattan)– Washington (Seattle)Washington (Seattle)– Texas (Dallas, Houston, Plano)Texas (Dallas, Houston, Plano)– Massachusetts (Boston)Massachusetts (Boston)– Colorado (Denver)Colorado (Denver)– New Jersey (New Jersey City)New Jersey (New Jersey City)

STREET INTERSECTIONSSTREET INTERSECTIONS

Founding of Chinatown in Founding of Chinatown in ChicagoChicago

T.C. MoyT.C. Moy arrived in arrived in Chicago in 1878Chicago in 1878

Considered to be the first Considered to be the first Chinese pioneer in the Chinese pioneer in the city. city.

Found Chicagoans Found Chicagoans more more acceptableacceptable to Chinese to Chinese culture than the people culture than the people on the Pacific Coast; on the Pacific Coast; urged more Chinese to urged more Chinese to movemove

11STST WAVE OF CHINESE WAVE OF CHINESE IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

PUSH FACTORSPUSH FACTORS

Scarce land/propertyScarce land/property PersecutionsPersecutions

– ReligiousReligious– Political (Government)Political (Government)

PovertyPoverty– FamineFamine

No JobsNo Jobs

11STST WAVE OF CHINESE WAVE OF CHINESE IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

PULL FACTORSPULL FACTORS

New LifeNew Life Promise of freedomPromise of freedom

– ReligiousReligious– Political Political

(Government)(Government) Job OpportunityJob Opportunity Plentiful LandPlentiful Land

Chinese Immigration LawsChinese Immigration Laws

Chinese in Chicago Chinese in Chicago faced immigration faced immigration laws laws

Had the same man Had the same man and woman ratio and woman ratio (100:1) as in other (100:1) as in other parts of America in parts of America in 1870-19201870-1920

22NDND WAVE OF CHINESE WAVE OF CHINESE IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

The largest The largest influxinflux (arrival) of (arrival) of Chinese came in 1950sChinese came in 1950s

– Communist Government (Mao Zedong)Communist Government (Mao Zedong) Religious/Political Persecutions (To Live)Religious/Political Persecutions (To Live)

– Lenient immigration lawsLenient immigration laws

– Improved Chinese-American relationshipImproved Chinese-American relationship

Post World War II Post World War II industrializationindustrialization was a huge pull was a huge pull for the Chinese to enter Americafor the Chinese to enter America

By 1970, Chicago ranked fourth in By 1970, Chicago ranked fourth in Chinese population in AmericaChinese population in America

CHINATOWNCHINATOWN Chinatown Chicago offersChinatown Chicago offers::

Hub for Chinese people in the ChicagolandHub for Chinese people in the ChicagolandBusiness center for Chinese in the MidwestBusiness center for Chinese in the MidwestPopular tourist destination and locals alikePopular tourist destination and locals alikeBanksBanksRestaurantsRestaurantsGift shopsGift shopsGrocery storesGrocery storesChinese medicine storesChinese medicine stores

Historical FiguresHistorical Figures Sun-Yet Sen Sun-Yet Sen

– Founder of the Republic of ChinaFounder of the Republic of China

Chinese revolutionist Chinese revolutionist – Major figure in the 1911 revolution to Major figure in the 1911 revolution to

remove the Emperor from power for the first remove the Emperor from power for the first time in Chinese historytime in Chinese history

– Gave people the ability to Gave people the ability to votevote for their for their leadersleaders

So when Dr. Sun Yat Sen said “So when Dr. Sun Yat Sen said “The The World Belongs to the World Belongs to the CommonwealthCommonwealth” as seen on the ” as seen on the Chinatown Gate, that was his way of Chinatown Gate, that was his way of saying that people should be able to saying that people should be able to decide the way their country is run.decide the way their country is run.

TongTong Chinese immigrants Chinese immigrants

traveled in traveled in TongsTongs——small groups. small groups.

Some stayed, but most Some stayed, but most came with hopes of came with hopes of returning to China returning to China someday. someday.

Early Chinese population Early Chinese population in America was primarily in America was primarily male at this timemale at this time– Slow to form families and Slow to form families and

settle downsettle down

FOODS in CHINATOWNFOODS in CHINATOWN