<p>Chinese immigrants first started to arrive in the United States in large numbers during the California gold rush.  <span class="normaltextrun1">As a major gold rush destination, California's Butte County became home to a significant Chinese population; after the gold rush, many of the Chinese who decided to stay found employment at Rancho del Arroyo Chico, a large and diversified farm owned by John Bidwell in the town of Chico. </span><br><br>Most of Bidwell’s Chinese workers worked in Rancho Chico’s vineyard, nursery and garden departments, though many also worked in the dairy and almond orchard. In 1872, Bidwell erected a “China House” barracks, but many of his workers lived in one of Chico’s two Chinatown areas.</p> <p></p> <p>Like all immigrants, the Chinese faced prejudice and suspicion from the time that they arrived in California. Instead of integrating into American culture, they formed into their own communities, retained their own language, wore traditional clothes, and spoke their Chinese language. Some Americans thought that this meant the Chinese were refusing to adapt to life in America. Resentment built as the Depression of the 1870s created more unemployment and unrest and the Chinese were accused of taking jobs away from Americans.</p> <p></p> <p>As Chico’s most visible Chinese employer, Bidwell was a target for anti-Chinese violence. His carpentry shop was burned down, and so was the rebuilt soap factory in June 1877.  The same year, John helped to launch an investigation when anti-Chinese arsonists attempted to burn down one of Chico’s two Chinatowns.</p> <p></p> <p>In March, arsonists burned down a Chinese camp near the city’s railroad tracks. Displaced residents sought refuge in the larger Chinese community at Bidwell’s Rancho Chico, indicating some faith in Bidwell’s ability and willingness to stand against anti-Chinese agitators. </p> <p> </p> <p> During the anti-Chinese agitation of the 1880s, members of the county’s anti-Chinese organization called on John Bidwell to fire his Chinese workers.  Imagine that you were paying a call on John Bidwell and this vase is the first thing that you see on your arrival; this would have sent a very powerful and unmistakable message about where John’s loyalties were.  In recalling the incident, John said that he refused to acquiesce to their demands; on at least one occasion, he specifically found extra work for his Chinese employees so that he could avoid letting them go, lest the anti-Chinese forces take that as a victory.</p> <p></p> <p>Discussion Questions</p> <p></p> <ol><li>Chinese immigrants to the United States were moving to a country that was very different from their old home.  Why might someone decide to leave their old life behind and move to a new country? What would make you look for a new life in a new place?</li><li> It was important to the Chinese immigrants to still remember their own customs and culture when they came to America. If you were to move to a new country, what customs would you want to remember? Why?</li><li>Many people in America were prejudiced against the Chinese because their customs were very different from what people in America were used to.  How do prejudiced people treat others? Why? </li><li>Have you ever experienced prejudice? In what way? How did it make you feel?<br><br><br><br></li></ol> <p></p>