Asian-American HistoryFrom Chinese laborers in the 1800s to millions of U.S. citizens todayWhen they first arrived in the United States, Asian (usually Chinese) immigrants were welcomed, or at least tolerated. After the Californiagold rushbrought thousands of Chinese to California, however, Asian immigrants faced restrictive laws and occasional violence.In the late 1800s, Chinese, and eventually other Asians, wereexcluded from citizenship. These laws were repealed duringWorld War II, followed by further immigration-law changes, making it easier for Asians to enter the United States.Today, Asian immigrants have a high rate of assimilation and participation in the American mosaic.Gold Rush BoomThe Chinese were the first Asians to arrive in large numbers. By the 1830s, Chinese were selling goods in New York City and toiling in Hawaiian sugarcane fields.Gold was discovered in California in 1848, eventually attracting thousands of Chinese miners and contract laborers. In 1850, justover 1,000 Asian immigrants entered the U.S., but ten years later, the figure had jumped to nearly 37,000, mostly Chinese.Violent ProtestsIn some quarters, Chinese workers were welcomed. The Central Pacific Railroad recruited Chinese to work on thetranscontinental railroadin 1865. Three years later the Chinese and the U.S. ratified theBurlingame Treatywhich facilitated Chinese immigration.However, many people feared being "overwhelmed" by the influx, which had swelled to nearly 65,000 in 1870, and over 107,000 in 1880. Some cities passed laws against Chinese and other Asians, often referred to as "Mongolians." Anti-Chinese riots erupted in Chico, California, in 1877 and in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in 1885.Japanese ArriveMeanwhile, increasing contact withJapanprompted Japanese to move to Hawaii and California to work in agriculture. In 1869 the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony was established in California.Contact with the PhilippinesIn 1899, following theSpanish-American War, thePhilippinescame under U.S. control, prompting increased immigration. In 1902, thepensionadoprogram, which allowed Filipinos to study in the U.S., was implemented.Because most Filipinos areRoman Catholic, their integration into American life was somewhat easier than for other Asians. Though Filipinos faced the same prejudices as Chinese and Japanese laborers (as described inCarlos Bulosan'sbookAmerica is in the Heart), Filipinos arrived with English skills, making assimilation easier.Japanese InternmentDuringWorld War II, more than 100,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were placed ininternment camps. Even though many did not speak Japanese or have close ties to Japan, they were nonetheless regarded as wartime threats. Although the U.S. was also at war with Germany and Italy, Americans with ancestors from those countries did not face internment.In 1988, Congress passed a measure giving $20,000 to Japanese Americans who had been interned during the war. PresidentGeorge H.W. Bushsigned it the following year.Increasing NumbersAlthough Asian immigration increased steadily through much of the 20th century, the region still contributed fewer newcomers than Europe, Latin America, and North America.TheMcCarran-Walter Actof 1952 eliminated race as a barrier to immigration, and in 1965 national quotas were ended, thus facilitating Asian immigration.Increasing CloutPolitical power soon followed. Dalip Singh was elected to U.S. Congress from California's Imperial Valley, and in 1962 Hawaii sentDaniel K. Inouyeto the U.S. Senate and Spark Matsunaga to the U.S. House. Two years later,Patsy Takemoto Minkof Hawaii was elected to the U.S. House, becoming the first Asian-American woman in Congress.Since then, hundreds of Asian Americans have been elected tostate legislatures and municipal positions.A More Diverse GroupIn 1979, the United States and China resumed diplomatic relations, making immigration easier for Chinese. But, new arrivals came from other Asian countries as well, includingIndiaandPakistan. And in 1975 following the Vietnam War, more than 130,000 refugees fleeing from the Communist governments ofVietnam,Cambodia, andLaosarrived on U.S. shores. Million of Asians arrived in subsequent years.In 1980, more than 2.5 million Asian immigrants entered the U.S., up from under 500,000 in 1960.The Immigration Act of 1990 increased the numbers of Asians coming to the U.S. by raising the total quota and reorganizing system of preferences to favor certain professional groups. This allowed Asians with training in medicine, high technology, and other specialties to enter more easily. From 5 million in 1990, the number of Asian immigrants more than doubled by 2009, reaching10.6 million.

East AsiaEast Asia encompasses the ancient cultural centers of China, Japan, and the Koreas, as well as Taiwan. With a written history stretching back more than 4,000 years, this area is one of the great centers of human civilization. China Japan North Korea South Korea Taiwan

Southeast Asia fruit stand.flydime on Flickr.comSoutheast AsiaSoutheast Asia includes the mainland countries of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma (Myanmar), as well as a number of island nations: Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and East Timor. This is a diverse region of rich and ancient cultures, but the more recent history of much of this area has been tragic. Brunei Burma (Myanmar) Cambodia East Timor (Timor-Leste) Indonesia Laos Malaysia The Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam

India's Taj Mahal.abhijeet.rane on Flickr.comIndian SubcontinentThe Indian subcontinent is one of the earliest sites of human civilization, and has had a rich and varied cultural and political history down through the millennia. Today, it encompasses the nations of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan. Bangladesh Bhutan India The Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka

Yurts in Central Asia.AudreyH on Flickr.comCentral AsiaThe wide-open steppes and jagged mountains of Central Asia have been a cultural crossroads for millennia. The site of the great Silk Road traffic in former years, these nations are once more gaining attention for their fossil fuel resources in an energy-hungry world. The countries that make up this fascinating region are: Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. Afghanistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Mongolia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Camels in Saudi Arabia.Michael (mx5tx) on Flickr.comThe Middle East and Asia MinorThe Middle East and Asia Minor have long been a pivot point between the cultures of the Mediterranean world and those of greater Asia. This region includes Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey United Arab Emirates Yemen

Immigration Foreign-Born Population in the U.S., by country Foreign-Born Population in the U.S., by continent Immigrants to U.S. by Country of Origin Immigrants Admitted as Permanent Residents Under Refugee Acts Countries of Birth of the Foreign-Born Population Foreign-Born Population in Metropolitan Areas Encyclopedia: ImmigrationPopulation Population of the United States by Race and Hispanic Origin: 2000 and 2010 Census Results U.S. Asian Population U.S. Pacific Islander Population Ancestry of U.S. Population by Rank Race & Ethnicity Asian-American EnclavesLanguage Persons Speaking a Language Other than English at Home Chinese Hindi Indo-Iranian(Indian, Iranian) Japanese Malayo-Polynesian(Malay) Mandarin Sino-Tibetan(Chinese, Thai) Southeast Asian(Cambodian, Vietnamese) Tagalog Thai Tibetan Urdu

Just How Long Have People Been Using Chopsticks?Chopsticks are ubiquitous in Asia, and widely found in the rest of the world too, but who invented them? How long ago? The answer may surprise you.Find out about the True History of the Persian ImmortalsThe Persian Immortals, sometimes called the "Ten Thousand Immortals," were elite troops of the Achaemenid Empire. Learn about these great warriors here.The Last Samurai, Last Emperors - Four Famous Lasts in Asian HistoryLearn about four "lasts" in Asian history, including the last great ninja lords, the last samurai, the last emperor of China, and the last Mughal.The Melancholy Fate of India's Last Mughal EmperorThe last emperor of the Mughal Dynasty was a dreamy poet and Sufi mystic, not suited to the demands of being a rebel leader. Learn about his life here.What Really Caused the Bloody Tajik Civil War?For more than five years, civil war between liberal democrats and Islamists rocked the new nation of Tajikistan, just emerging from the Soviet Union.The First Arab-Israeli War, 1948In 1948, the new nation of Israel was created as a Jewish homeland on what had long been Palestinian Arab land. Five Arab nations immediately attacked.Who Was Yasser Arafat?Learn about the life and work of Yasser Arafat, an important figure in the history of Palestine.The Meaning Behind 10 Kinds of Traditional Asian Hats and HeadgearAmong the most recognizable examples of Asian traditional headgear is the turban worn by Sikh men.Japan Has No Army, Right? So What Is the Self Defense Force?Since World War II, Japan has not had a standing army or navy - at least, not formally. However, it does have a very well-equipped "Self Defense Force."Millions of Persians Starved in the Little-Known Great Famine of 1870-71Few people have heard of the Great Persian Famine of 1870-71, though it left millions of Persian people dead of starvation and cholera.Who Was Emilio Jacinto?Like so many Filipino revolutionary heroes, Emilio Jacinto lived a very short time, but his work and his ideas live on in the independent Philippines.Amazing Pictures of World War II in the PacificJapanese troops raise their arms in triumph early in World War II, when Japan looked like an unstoppable juggernaut rolling over Asia.

Top Secret Military Hardware: The Wheelbarrow in 200 ADDid you know that the first wheelbarrows, invented in China, were considered top secret military hardware? Learn about the invention of the wheelbarrow.Do You Know About Korea's Mermaids?The diving women or haenyo of South Korea's Jeju Island support their families by deep diving for shellfish and other seafood.See 7 of Asia's Oldest CitiesAleppo, Syria is often described as the oldest continuously occupied city in Asia. Certainly, its pedigree goes back for thousands of years.Learn How Portugal Took Control of MacauThe small European nation of Portugal seized a part of the Chinese coast, called Macau, and held on to it for centuries.Political Cartoons - A View of Colonial IndiaA political cartoon from Punch shows Sir Colin Campbell presenting a semi-tamed India to Lord Palmerston after the Indian Mutiny.Persia's National Epic, the ShahnamehThe Shahnameh is the longest epic poem written by a single poet, the great Ferdowsi, and tells the story of Persia's ancient history.The Mongols Destroy Baghdad, 1258The Golden Age of Islam came to an abrupt and bloody end in 1258, when the Mongols sacked the Abbasid caliph's capital at Baghdad and killed the caliph.Falun Gong, A Repressed Spiritual Practice in ChinaWhat is Falun Gong? Why does the Chinese government repress this spiritual practice so violently? Are practitioners really being tortured and killed?General Antonio Luna, Hero of the Philippine - American WarAntonio Luna was a brilliant military strategist who led troops against the American imperialists after the US took the Philippines from Spain in 1899.Facts You Should Know About PalestineThe region called Palestine is also known as the Land of Israel, and Palestinians and Israelis live uneasily side-by-side. Learn more about Palestine here."The Mikado" - Satire of Britain, Not of JapanDoes the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "The Mikado" resemble Meiji Japan? Why do modern theater companies doing traditional stagings stir up so much anger?Sima Qian's Horrifying SacrificeSima Qian, the official astrologer for the Han Chinese court, risked all to support a disgraced general - and was punished with a horrifying choice.How Did the Philistines Get Such a Bad Reputation?Who were the Philistines in history, and why are they so reviled?Who Is Kim Jong-Un?Kim Jong-Un is the current leader of North Korea, which was founded by his grandfather. Like his father before him, Kim is erratic and unpredictable - and he has nukes.The Last Nomadic Empire Faces Genocide by Qing ChinaIt seems fitting somehow that the last great nomadic empire of Asia was formed by Mongols - the Dzungar branch of the Oirats. They lasted for more than century before the Qing Empire exterminated them.Elephants at War from Ancient Times to the 20th CenturyElephants have been trained as combatants in war, especially in Asia. How was that done? Why Asian elephants and not African ones?What Happened at Fukushima, Japan in 2011?A chain reaction of disasters struck Japan in March of 2011. Learn about the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown that unfolded in north-central Honshu.What Is Sanskrit?Sanskrit is a sacred language in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is also a literary language throughout South Asia.

Japan Carries Out the Rape of Nanking, 1937In 1937, Japan captured the Chinese capital city of Nanking, and carried out mass rape and murder against civilians and POWs. An estimated 200,000 Chinese were brutally killed.Who Was Zoroaster or Zarathustra?Zoroaster founded one of the earliest monotheistic religions, and Zoroastrian ideas pop up in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Who was he?Why Did China Depend on the Burma Road in World War II?During the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, Chinese troops fighting the Japanese occupation relied on a slender supply line called the Burma Road.Chess is About Warfare, Not NerdinessToday, chess is considered a nerdy pursuit, but it began as strategic military training. Where and when did chess originate?Photos from Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the BombAerial photo of Hiroshima after the atomic bombing.Historical Images of China's Forbidden CityOuter gate of the Forbidden City in Beijing China.Learn More about Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein ruled Iraq by fear for decades, and launched invasions of neighboring countries, until he was brought down by a US-led coalition in 2003.Why Does China Still Support North Korea?Since Korea was divided, North Korea has had an ally in its neighbor - China. Now North Korea is a liability, so why does China still support it?Who Was Cyrus the Great?Cyrus the Great founded the ancient Achaemenid Empire in Persia. Learn more about this charismatic leader and the enlightened empire he established.Japan's Medieval Ashikaga ShogunateIn the 13th century, feudal Japan entered a new era called the Ashikaga or Muromachi period, when the arts, culture, and Zen Buddhism flourished.The True History of the 1001 Arabian NightsThe Tales of the 1001 Arabian Nights are known around the world, but what is the real history behind these magical stories?Where Was Babylon?A brief history of the ancient city-state of Babylon, which lay on the fertile plain between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia (Iraq).Why Did North Korea Bomb Rangoon in 1983?In 1983, the North Korean government blew up a memorial in Rangoon, then the capital of Burma (now called Myanmar). Why did the North Koreans do this?The Warlord Who Started Japan's Rise to Power, Oda NobunagaOda Nobunaga began the process of reunifying Japan after the chaotic Sengoku period. His task was completed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.This Country Has Had More Coups than Any OtherThailand has had more military coups than any other country. Why is this Southeast Asian nation addicted to military interventions into its politics?11 Animals First Domesticated in AsiaSee eleven common animals - from dogs to koi fish - that were first domesticated in Asia.How Did the Ottoman Empire Encourage European Exploration?From the 1400s, the Ottoman Empire took control of the pivotal link between Europe and the Asian spice islands. To get Asian goods, Europeans had to go around...This War Ended the Shogun's Power in Japan - the Boshin WarIn 1868, a civil war broke out in Japan between forces who wanted to return power to the emperor, and those who wanted to keep the shogun in power.The Soviets Shoot Down a South Korea Airliner, 1983A Korean Airlines plane took off from New York in 1983, bound for Seoul. Over Alaska, its navigator made a tragic mistake - and the Soviets shot down the plane.The Real Caliph Behind the Arabian NightsHarun al-Rashid, caliph of the Abbasid Empire, ruled over a golden age of high Islamic culture that inspired the wondrous stories of the 1001 Arabian Nights.