Immigration

Information: Anna Tulenko

Immigration in San Francisco & Chinatown

Chinatown in San Francisco is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside of Asia.

Chinatown was the port of entry for many Chinese immigrants from the 1850s to the 1900s. This immigration was halted with the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

In 1900 a Chinese immigrant died from the Bubonic Plague, and all of Chinatown was quarantined. This led to burning of personal property and forced sanitation of people’s homes, which the people of Chinatown protested.

In 1906 an earthquake destroyed much of the original Chinatown.

 During the Great Depression many nightclubs and bars were built such as the famous Forbidden City nightclub.

The Chinese exclusion act was repealed in 1943, which allowed more Chinese immigrants to come to the US.

There was a history of Gang violence in Chinatown, including the criminal group the Tongs, who had control of Chinatown during the 1880s and 1890s.

Chinatown is home to many events such as the Chinese New Year parade and the Autumn Moon Festival.