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Difficulty: MediumImmigration, Urbanization, and Social Culture

"We have come to this country under the treaties between the United States and China... We have built your railroads, reclaimed your swamplands, and worked in your mines. Yet, we are met with constant hostility, special taxes aimed only at our people, and acts of violence that go unpunished by local authorities. We ask only for the equal protection of the laws promised to all who reside under your flag."
— Petition of the Chinese Six Companies to the President of the United States, 1876

Which of the following developments during the late nineteenth century most directly contributed to the conditions described in the excerpt?

  1. A
    The implementation of Progressive Era civil service reforms targeting municipal corruption
  2. B
    The federal government’s strict adherence to laissez-faire principles regarding international migration
  3. Increased competition for industrial and resource-based jobs, combined with nativist sentiment among labor organizationsAnswer
  4. D
    The rapid shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture in the early nineteenth century

Answer

Increased competition for industrial and resource-based jobs, combined with nativist sentiment among labor organizations
The correct answer is correct because economic competition in the American West, particularly in mining, agriculture, and railroad construction, led white working-class laborers and nativist groups to view Chinese immigrants as threats to their wages and employment. This labor-based nativism resulted in localized discrimination, discriminatory taxes, and political lobbying that culminated in federal exclusionary policies.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document to identify the group protesting and their grievances.
The petition is from the Chinese Six Companies in 1876, representing Chinese immigrants in the United States who are protesting hostility, discriminatory taxes, and lack of legal protection despite their contributions to building railroads and working in mines.
Understanding the source and the specific complaints of Chinese immigrants provides the historical context needed to identify the causes of their treatment.
2
Connect the grievances of Chinese immigrants to broader economic and social developments of the Gilded Age (1865–1898).
During this period, the influx of Chinese laborers created labor competition in western mining and construction, which white working-class organizations and nativists exploited to demand restrictions and exclusion.
Linking the source to the correct historical context allows for identifying the primary driver behind the hostility.
3
Evaluate the options to find the development that most directly caused the nativist hostility and discrimination.
The increase in job competition and resulting nativism among labor unions directly led to the hostility and discriminatory practices faced by Chinese immigrants, making this the correct response.
Eliminating distractors that reference incorrect time periods or historical concepts ensures the selection of the most accurate cause.

Key Concept

Immigration, Urbanization, and Social Culture
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Immigration, Urbanization, and Social Culture

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