Vancouver anti-Chinese riots, 1886 facts for kids

The Vancouver anti-Chinese riots of 1886 were a series of angry events that happened in Vancouver, Canada. They are sometimes called the Winter Riots because they took place in winter. These events were caused by a disagreement over jobs. The Canadian Pacific Railway hired Chinese workers for lower pay to clear land in Vancouver. Many other people from Canada were unemployed and looking for work, and they felt these jobs should have gone to them.

What Caused the Vancouver Riots?

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was a huge project that built a railway across Canada. It was finished in November 1885. After the railway was done, thousands of workers were no longer needed. Many of these workers were left without jobs in southern British Columbia.

Some of these unemployed workers went to the Cariboo region to search for gold. Others traveled to San Francisco to find work. Many more came to Vancouver, hoping to find new jobs there.

Events of January 1886

In January 1886, Chinese workers set up camps near Vancouver Harbour. They were hired to clear away the big Douglas fir trees and stumps in Vancouver's West End. These Chinese workers were paid much less than other workers.

Many white workers had been unemployed and hungry for weeks. They were very angry that jobs were being given to Chinese workers at lower wages. They felt this took away their chance to earn money.

One night in January 1886, an angry crowd of white workers attacked the Chinese camp in the West End. Many people were hurt during this attack. Some Chinese workers even ran into the cold sea to escape the crowd.