To Chinese immigrants, in the mid-1800s, California was "The Land of the Golden Mountain." In their homeland they had heard the words, "There's gold in California." They sailed 7,000miles to join the gold rush and strike it rich. Between 1849 and 1882, more than 30,000 Chinese came to California. Most were men. They had been farmers in China. They came here to be miners and laborers. They ended up doing many other jobs, too. Like many other immigrants, they did not plan to stay in America. They came because of their ties to their homeland and their families. They planned to return to China with their fortunes and help their families. Only a few Chinese gold miners struck it rich. Most picked over the areas that had been mined already. But still, white miners _ the Chinese. Slowly, they drove the "yellow peril" from the mining camps. By the end of the 1850s, many Chinese returned home. Those who stayed found other jobs. Few women had come west in the gold rush. The Chinese saw a good business opportunity. They began doing the jobs women would have done. Many became house servants. Many more opened laundries. The Chinese opened restaurants. Chop suey and show mein are popular Chinese-American dishes. The Chinese probably created these dishes to serve to the white miners. Other Chinese became fishermen, farmers, and even cigar makers. Why did Chinese go to America in the mid-1800s?
Because they could find good jobs there. Because they had found gold there. Because they could open laundries and restaurants there. Because they heard there was gold there.