In the heart of the American West lies a complex tale of progress and prejudice, where the very people who helped build one of America’s greatest achievements would soon face unprecedented discrimination.
The story of Chinese railroad workers in the 1800s mirrors contemporary debates about immigration and economic opportunity.
These workers demonstrated exceptional skill and courage while facing harsh working conditions and discrimination. Their contribution to American infrastructure was monumental, yet their reward was the nation’s first major immigration restriction – the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
Building America’s Dreams
The Central Pacific Railroad faced a critical labor shortage during the Civil War era. When their recruitment efforts in America proved unsuccessful, they turned to China, specifically the Guangdong province, where civil unrest had created a pool of skilled workers eager for opportunities abroad.
Approximately 20,000 Chinese laborers were employed, forming the backbone of the railroad’s construction effort. (ref)
These workers weren’t just manual laborers – they were skilled professionals including chefs, physicians, blacksmiths, metal workers, carpenters, and architects.
Their expertise proved invaluable in tackling the most challenging aspects of construction, particularly in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where they cut tunnels through solid granite and built towering wooden trestles.
An Economic Paradox
The completion of the transcontinental railroad marked a transformative moment in American history, reducing travel time between New York and San Francisco from six months to less than a week. However, this engineering marvel had unexpected economic consequences.
The improved connectivity between regions led to increased competition and economic challenges for Western manufacturing and agriculture.
The Chinese workers’ efficiency was legendary. In a remarkable demonstration of their capabilities, Charles Crocker of the Central Pacific wagered $10,000 that his Chinese crew could build 10 miles of track in one day.
With nearly 4,000 workers, they not only met this challenge but exceeded it, laying nearly one mile of track per hour – a record that stands to this day. (ref)
The Fall of Chinatown
The success of Chinese workers paradoxically contributed to growing resentment. Anti-Chinese sentiment became increasingly politicized, particularly during the economic downturn of the 1870s.
The Page Act of 1875 marked the beginning of restrictive legislation, specifically targeting Chinese women. (ref)
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 dealt a devastating blow to the Chinese community. It not only barred Chinese laborers from entering the country but also made existing Chinese immigrants permanent aliens, excluding them from U.S. citizenship. (ref)
This legislation effectively froze the Chinese community in place, preventing it from growing and integrating like other immigrant groups. The 1924 Immigration Act would later extend these restrictions to immigrants from other Asian countries.
Legacy & Lessons
Recent research has revealed that the economic impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act was far more damaging than previously understood. The Act reduced the number of Chinese workers of all skill levels and, contrary to its intended purpose, actually reduced labor opportunities and job quality for white and U.S.-born workers.
The contributions of Chinese railroad workers are finally receiving long-overdue recognition. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor inducted the Chinese rail workers into the Hall of Honor.
Today, their descendants and scholars continue to piece together their story through archaeological work, historical records, and family histories. The estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Chinese migrants who helped build the railroad, including the approximately 1,000 who lost their lives during construction, are a huge part of American infrastructure and history.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
