Chinese began emigrating to the U.S. in large numbers during the California Gold Rush. Besides working in the mines, the immigrants also provided labor for railroad construction, fishing, agriculture, and light industry.
大批華工到美國，始自一八四八年。當時加州的美國河、沙加緬度河及其支流發現金礦，各地淘金客蜂湧而來，華工也以合約傭工身分入境；除了在礦區工作外，還加入築鐵路、捕魚和加州當時剛興起的輕工業。