CONTENT STATEMENT

Building of the transcontinental railroads, the discovery of mineral resources, and government policies promoted economic growth and new communities as the United States moved westward during the Gold Rush. Multiple Exclusion Acts and the Gentlemen's agreement determined who could come into the United States based on occupation and country of origin. 

Increasing debates over assimilation and Americanization accompanied the growth of international migration. Nativist campaigns against some ethnic groups led to the passage of quotas that restricted immigration or increased barriers to Asian immigration like the Immigration Quota Act of 1924 and Chinese Exclusion laws.

U.S. imperialism and militarism in Asia are key drivers of Asian migration to the United States. Asians have migrated to the United States mainly because the United States went to Asia to secure land and resources and continues to have a military presence in Asia for its capitalist expansion. United States imperialism results in the United State’s acquisition of Hawaii, Philippines, and Guam. Each would face obstacles relating to US interventionism and their struggle to maintain their cultural identities:

• Hawaii: Led to the suppression of native Hawaiian culture and political autonomy, raising ongoing challenges related to cultural preservation and sovereignty for the Indigenous population.

• Philippines: Resulted in a complex history of resistance and collaboration, with ongoing struggles related to the impact on Filipino identity, political autonomy, and socio-economic disparities.

• Guam: Brought challenges related to the preservation of Chamorro culture, issues of self-determination, and environmental concerns stemming from military presence. 

EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING 

Examine the growth of the Asian American population in the U.S., highlighting the significance of their labor and emphasizing the historical exploitation of Asian labor (specifically Chinese and Japanese), with a focus on interactions with other racial and ethnic groups

Explore the impact of limited citizenship on Asian Americans, analyzing its effects on participation in US society, including voting, land ownership, and marriage choices, in contrast to their economic and territorial gains upon arrival(considering the broader context of Asian immigrant contributions to U.S. nation-building through labor on railroads, farming, and other infrastructure).

Explore Angel Island's exclusionary purpose and diverse immigrant populations, focusing on individual experiences within the station, in contrast to Ellis Island.

CONTENT STATEMENT 

In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. unjustly incarcerated people of Japanese descent, driven by racial stereotypes rather than evidence of their involvement in the aggression, under the guise of national protection. In the United States, a good (Chinese) and bad (Japanese) Asian dichotomy was created in mainstream media. Citizens like Fred Korematsu and Gordon K. Hirabayashi petitioned the court for their freedoms during their incarcerations. In 1988, thanks to grassroot movements and community action from Japanese Americans and their allies, the nation would issue a national declaration that the incarceration of Japanese Americans was a mistake and provide restitution to surviving victims.

East Asian Americans (China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan) as well as South Asian Americans (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan) experienced U.S. society differently during this period. Consider the influence of the Cold War dynamics, including the spread of communism in East Asia and the geopolitical complexities of South Asia. U.S. wars and military interventions in Asia have created conditions that forced many Asians to leave their homes, resulting in a significant impact on the lives of those seeking refuge from oppressive government systems. This includes displaced and endangered refugees from various Asian nations such as Korea, Japan, China, and Vietnam.

From the 1960s-1980s, the Asian American Civil Rights movement led to an increase in Asian American critical consciousness, including: 

• The Yellow Power movement

• Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) who spearheaded the longest student strike in the nation alongside the Black Student Union (BSU) at San Francisco State University In 1968. This strike resulted in the institutionalization of ethnic studies

• Fighting for the end of the Vietnam War

• Protest over the racially motivated killing of Vincent Chin in Detroit

EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING 

Describe the United States intent behind Japanese incarceration and what camp was like. 

Discuss the personal debate over Asia American fighting for the United States in WWII and the Cold War. 

Compare Asian American Civil Rights movements to other minority groups in the 1960s-1970s, emphasizing Asian American agency and resistance, often in solidarity with other communities, against racism and discrimination

CONTENT ELABORATION 

Asian American stereotypes have existed in popular culture for centuries. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 sought to increase U.S. economic strength and helped give way to the “model minority myth” which is the idea of Asian Americans as model minorities who are intelligent, hardworking, wealthy, and obedient. This model minority myth has strengthened white supremacy by pitting Asian Americans against Black and Brown communities, denying the presence of structural racism, and reifying whiteness as the norm of citizenship.

Over time, the Asian American community has become increasingly diverse. The term 'Asian American' is often used inclusively with Pacific Islanders in acronyms like AAPI or APA. However, it's important to recognize that Pacific Islanders have unique histories, cultures, politics, and languages that can be overlooked when grouped together. Sometimes, this inclusion is meant to highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the specific histories and challenges faced by Pacific Islander communities.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian American sentiments escalated, gaining prominence in news and social media cycles, occasionally leading to hate crimes and tragic incidents, including death.

In the post 9/11 context, Japanese Americans challenged racist proposals, based on forced Japanese incarceration, to intern Arabs and Muslims. South Asian Americans organized with Arab Americans and Muslim communities against war, Islamophobia and racial/religious profiling. Asian American activism and cross-racial solidarity continues today in the fight against anti-Asian violence, discriminatory deportation and immigration.

Native Hawaiians face the struggle today to maintain pacific islander culture in a Westernized Hawai’i since imperialism to today. 

Ohio has a diverse Asian American population. The largest Asian American populations include descendants from India, China, Philippines, Korea, and Japan (in population order). Ohio is also home to refugees from Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Bhutan. 

EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING 

Analyze instances of hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans in the 21st century, while also exploring and acknowledging their agency and resistance in the face of these injustices.

Research other countries under the Asian American umbrella, especially those in your own community.