Chinese Labor Strike of 1867

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In June of 1867, two thousand Chinese Transcontinental Railroad workers participated in a general strike (a collective action) for a week along the Sierra Nevada range, demanding better working conditions.[1] By 1867, the Central Pacific Railroad workforce was composed of 80-90% Chinese laborers and the rest were European-Americans.[2] The workers in the Chinese project were literate and well organized, but left no written records.[3] Despite the lack of written account from the Chinese workers, it is apparent from reports in the press and from the railroad bosses that the Chinese workers were hard-working, peaceful, and that the strike was carried out with no violence.[4] The strike was organized in June, at the time of the Summer Solstice, and carried it out a way that strongly reflected Confucian values.[4] The strike lasted a little over a week, and the workers returned peacefully to work.[5]

Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project at Stanford

The main historical record for the Chinese Labor Strike of 1867 has come from a Stanford University initiative called the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project.[6] This repository covers the Chinese Labor Strike of 1867 and includes research materials,[7] a bibliography,[8] a digital materials repository,[9] exhibits,[10] a curriculum guide[11] and oral histories with railroad worker descendants.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Chinese Labor / Transcontinental Railroad". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  2. ^ Fuchs, Chris (Jun 21, 2017). "150 Years Ago, Chinese Railroad Workers Staged the Era's Largest Labor Strike". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  3. ^ Shashkevich, Alex (Apr 18, 2019). "Stanford project gives voice to Chinese workers who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad". Stanford University. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  4. ^ a b Ryan, Patrick Spaulding (Mar 22, 2022). "Saving Face Without Words: A Confucian Perspective on The Strike of 1867". SSRN Working Paper. SSRN 4067005. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  5. ^ Gandhi, Lakshmi (8 October 2021). "The Transcontinental Railroad's Dark Costs: Exploited Labor, Stolen Lands". History.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  6. ^ Stanford University. "Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project". Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project. Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  7. ^ Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project. "Research publications and accessible resources provided by the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project at Stanford". Stanford University. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  8. ^ Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project. "Bibliography". Stanford University. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  9. ^ Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project. "CRRW Digital Materials Repository Galleries". Stanford University. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  10. ^ Stanford University (14 October 2019). "Exhibit of Li Ju Photographs Earns Awards". Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  11. ^ Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Communication (2018-09-18). "Curriculum Guide". Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  12. ^ Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project. "Oral Histories and Interviews". Stanford University. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
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