Chinese Migrants on the Goldfields
Chinese prospectors formed the largest group of gold rush migrants. During the gold rushes, up to 40 000 Chinese migrants travelled to Australia.
Most Chinese did not intend to stay in Australia; they sought to make their fortune and return to their families in China. Others had left a war-ravaged country and had no family or property waiting for their return.
Chinese migrants were 'different'. They looked different, had different clothing and ways of living and, worse, a greater work ethic. European diggers did not accept these 'foreigners' and the large number of Chinese migrants, who stood out amongst the predominantly European population, led to widespread fear of a Chinese invasion.
Australian and European prospectors were threatened by the competition from Chinese migrants. Other miners thought it was unfair that Chinese miners would often successfully work abandoned claims (claims given up as 'without gold' by other miners). In addition to the fear of the unknown, many miners were incredibly jealous of Chinese miners' successes. This fear was increased by the way the Australian media represented the Chinese migrants. Newspapers told of their 'disgusting practices, fearful immorality and unknown vices'.
Watch a clip from ABC's My Place - The Chinese House here www.myplace.edu.au/teaching_activities/1878_-_before_time/1868/2/the_chinese_house.html
Chinese migrants were 'different'. They looked different, had different clothing and ways of living and, worse, a greater work ethic. European diggers did not accept these 'foreigners' and the large number of Chinese migrants, who stood out amongst the predominantly European population, led to widespread fear of a Chinese invasion.
Australian and European prospectors were threatened by the competition from Chinese migrants. Other miners thought it was unfair that Chinese miners would often successfully work abandoned claims (claims given up as 'without gold' by other miners). In addition to the fear of the unknown, many miners were incredibly jealous of Chinese miners' successes. This fear was increased by the way the Australian media represented the Chinese migrants. Newspapers told of their 'disgusting practices, fearful immorality and unknown vices'.
Watch a clip from ABC's My Place - The Chinese House here www.myplace.edu.au/teaching_activities/1878_-_before_time/1868/2/the_chinese_house.html
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Task 6:
- Use the link below to create a Venn Diagram. Record the similarities & differences in aspects of life for the Chinese miners and the European miners on the Goldfields.
- Upload your completed Venn Diagram to your Weebly account.
http://www.classtools.net/education-games-php/venn_intro
- Use the link below to create a Venn Diagram. Record the similarities & differences in aspects of life for the Chinese miners and the European miners on the Goldfields.
- Upload your completed Venn Diagram to your Weebly account.
http://www.classtools.net/education-games-php/venn_intro