Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander History
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders have played vital roles in shaping the nation—from building the Transcontinental Railroad to advocating for labor law changes to fighting in multiple wars. They made these contributions while also facing persistent discrimination and violence throughout U.S. history.
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Asian immigrants have come to American shores since the mid-1800s, playing a significant role in U.S. history, but one that’s rife with inequity and exclusion. See a timeline of key events.
Facing economic threats and violence, early Chinese immigrants banded together and created communities to survive—and thrive.
Hawaii became part of the union more than six decades after an illegal coup ousted the Native Hawaiian monarchy.
From disease cures to influential tech to workers' rights, Asian American innovators have made huge impacts on people's lives.
Japanese American Internment
Internment
The Pearl Harbor attack caused a wave of nationalist resentment that had long-reaching effects on the Japanese-American population.
3 Ways Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Have Shaped U.S. Culture
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Mamie Tape's bid to desegregate San Francisco schools went to the California Supreme Court seven decades before Brown v. Board.
In May 1887, around 30 Chinese laborers were mining gold in an isolated part of northeast Oregon, when the entire group was gunned down by a white gang of horse thieves. Initially referred to as the “Hells Canyon Massacre” or “Snake River Massacre” and the “Chinese Massacre at Deep Creek,” the event is considered one of the deadliest attacks against Chinese-Americans in U.S. history.
The Rock Springs Massacre began as a labor dispute in the territory of Wyoming between white and Chinese coal miners. The dispute led to violence by white mobs on September 2, 1885 that left 28 Chinese miners dead and 15 others wounded.
Larry Itliong was a Filipino American labor leader who organized West Coast farm workers, starting in the 1930s. He became well-known in the 1960s for spearheading the Delano grape strike and teaming with labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to demand farm workers' rights.
More than 100,000 Japanese Americans were sent to 'War Relocation Centers' between 1942 and 1946.
Actors of East Asian descent often faced limited and typecast roles in Old Hollywood, but they paved the way for future generations.
Sessue Hayakawa was a sex symbol of the silent era.
Wong started acting at age 14 and rose to fame, but as a Chinese American, landing leading roles was often a struggle.
The Angel Island Immigration Station served as the main immigration facility on the West Coast of the United States from 1910 to 1940. Many immigrants from China or other Asian countries were detained there for extended periods thanks to the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and other discriminatory immigration laws.
At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire Chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital.
Legendary warrior chief was first Hawaiian to travel the world.
The 1882 trial of laborer Yee Shun set a new legal precedent in America.
