This module considers how recent Chinese American history remains central to the history of American cities and development of suburbs, labor relations and the economy, international relations (especially as China became a global superpower), and public health responses to epidemic disease.

The complex history of Chinese Americans has shaped and expanded the community’s understanding of cultural identity. In the mid-nineteenth century, most Chinese immigrants arrived from southern China, but today, Chinese Americans trace their lineage back to a wide variety of places. In addition to mainland China, some have connections to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and other countries and regions. Since the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which ended the previous quota system, the Chinese American community has grown thirteen-fold. According to the US Census, the Chinese diaspora in the US is the ninth largest ethnic population in the country. The US also boasts the largest population of ethnically Chinese people outside of China. Of the approximately 5 million Chinese people living in the US, over half are foreign-born.

Given these extraordinary numbers, Chinese American history remains central to the history of America. Chinese Americans have shaped cities, suburbs, labor relations, the US economy, international relations, and public health responses to epidemic disease.