Between 1848 and 1852, over 20,000 Chinese men migrated to San Francisco in pursuit of gold, establishing ethnic enclaves known as bachelor societies that developed into early Chinatowns. Immigration laws, such as the Page Act of 1875 and the Exclusion Act of 1882, severely restricted the entry of Chinese women, aggravating gender imbalances among Chinese immigrants. These laws created a legacy of lost families and broken bloodlines, an impact that continues to resonate today as many sought innovative ways to bypass such restrictions.
More than twenty thousand Chinese migrants arrived in San Francisco between 1848 and 1852, primarily seeking gold and employment, especially after the construction of the transcontinental railroad.
The Page Act of 1875 and the Exclusion Act of 1882 drastically limited Chinese immigration, creating significant gender imbalances and affecting family structures for generations.
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