Designed to be "Ellis Island of the West" -- At Ellis Island it took several days
(at the most) to be processed
At Angel Island it took many weeks or even months

Mainly a detention facility used to enforce immigration laws

Concept of "Paper Sons and Daughters:"
If any immigrant could prove they were related to some in the US (there were no records to compare to) and they had papers proving this (these could easily be forged before the trip was made) they could get in without waiting for weeks at Angel Island.

"Chinese American Literature" [online]
http://labweb.soemadison.wisc.edu/cni514/fall97/sumera/china.html

Detention in Chinese standard of living

• Opium War (139-1842)
• Ever-growing population
• crop failures

Perrin Lindia "Coming to America" New York, NY
Visual Education Corp.  1980

P. 6    Many people lost their homes and land from war -- others couldn't pay taxes -- droughts, crop failures in late 1840s

P. 7    Real Ad (Translated) trying to convince Chinese to come over as "coolies" (unskilled laborers who earned very little        pay):

Americans are very rich people.  They want Chinaman to com and will make him very welcome.  There you will have great pay, large houses, and food and clothing of the finest description.  You can write to your friends and send them money at any time.  We will be responsible for the safe delivery.  There are a great many Chinaman now and it will not be strange a country.  China god is there, and the agents of this house.  Never fear and you will be lucky.  Come to Hong Kong or to the sign of this house in Canton, and we will instruct you.  Money is in great plenty and to spare in America.

"World Book Encyclopedia" C-Ch, Vol. 3
World Book Inc.  1992

P. 473  Largest Population in the world -- 1/5 of world's people live in China.  World's oldest living civilization.
P. 479  Belongs to communist party.  Only about 4% of country's population belongs to party.

P. 483  Chinese traditionally lived in villages of 100-200 people.

P. 485  Most Chinese make their own clothes

P. 486 Religion is discouraged by the communist party

P. 488 Oldest Chinese Art -- 5000 BC -- Painting closely linked to Calligraphy.  Calligraphy is many times [in China] to be considered a  branch of painting.

P. 490  Chinese sculpture influenced strongly by Buddhism.

P. 491 Chinese drama began during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1378).  Most popular form of opera -- Beijing Opera - has bright, colorful costumes.  Plays based on Chinese stories, histories, folklore.

McLenighan, Valjean "China, a history to 1949" Canada
Regensteiner Publishing Enterprises  1983

P. 113  Capital - Nanking

P. 114 Chinese have own system of measurement (not english or metric)

P. 117 Chinese - great opera lovers

Bramstone, David M  "Chinese American Heritage"  New York: Facts on File,  1988.

P. 35  Many years - illegal to leave China.  If caught -- beheaded.  Penalties became less and less enforced over time

I have a few other sources which \basically say the same thing as above, so they are not listed.  Also, I had 2 pages worth of notes which are lost/stolen after I left my notepad in the media center.  If I find these I will post them.  I am also doing research at home.   I will post these notes -- check back in a few days.