Chinese Labor Strike of 1867 facts for kids

In June of 1867, something important happened in the history of the First transcontinental railroad. About 2,000 Chinese workers went on strike for a week. They were building the railroad through the tough Sierra Nevada mountains. They wanted better working conditions.

By 1867, most of the workers (80-90%) for the Central Pacific Railroad were Chinese. The rest were European-Americans. The Chinese workers were well-organized. They knew how to read and write. But they didn't leave many written records of their own.

Even without their own writings, we know a lot from newspapers and railroad bosses. These reports show that the Chinese workers were very hard-working. They were also peaceful. The strike happened without any violence. It started in June, around the time of the longest day of the year. The way they carried out the strike showed strong values from Confucian teachings, which focus on respect and order. The strike lasted a little over a week. After that, the workers went back to work peacefully.

The Chinese Railroad Workers' Strike of 1867

The strike by Chinese railroad workers in 1867 was a big event. It showed that these workers could stand up for themselves. They wanted fair treatment and better pay. They also wanted shorter workdays. At the time, they worked very long hours, often from sunrise to sunset. They also faced dangerous conditions, especially when blasting tunnels through mountains.

Why the Workers Went on Strike

The Chinese workers were paid less than other workers. They also had to pay for their own food and tools. Other workers did not have to do this. The conditions were very hard. They lived in simple camps and faced harsh weather. They decided to stop working together to demand changes. This kind of action, where many people stop working at once, is called a general strike. It's a way for workers to make their voices heard.

How the Strike Happened

The strike was very organized. The workers chose leaders to speak for them. They stopped working all at once along a 30-mile stretch of the railroad. This surprised the railroad bosses. The bosses tried to make them go back to work. They even cut off food supplies. But the workers stayed strong. They showed great unity and determination.

The End of the Strike

After about a week, the strike ended. The workers went back to their jobs. They did not get all their demands met. But the strike brought attention to their struggles. It showed how important the Chinese workers were to building the railroad. It also showed their strength and ability to organize. Even though they didn't win everything, their strike is an important part of American labor history.

Learning More: The Stanford Project

Most of what we know about the Chinese Labor Strike of 1867 comes from a special project. This project was started by Stanford University. It's called the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project.

What the Project Does

Professors Gordon Chang and Shelley Fisher-Fishkin led this project. They believed it was important to fill a missing part of history. Over 100 experts worked on it. These experts studied many different things. They looked at old objects, American culture, human societies, Asian American history, and old writings.

The Stanford project is the main place to find information about the 1867 strike. It has many helpful things. It includes research papers and a list of books and articles. It also has a collection of digital materials. There are even exhibits you can see. The project also created guides for teachers. And it collected stories from the families of railroad workers. This helps us understand their experiences better.