The American West erupted in anti-Chinese violence in 1885. Following the massacre of Chinese miners in Wyoming Territory, communities throughout California and the Pacific Northwest harassed, assaulted, and expelled thousands of Chinese immigrants. In this webinar, we will examine how American immigration policies incited this violence and how the violence, in turn, provoked new exclusionary policies. We will consider how these historical events continue to impact immigrants today and ask what it means that America’s immigration policies have violent roots. We will also discuss best practices for teaching about racial violence.
