The Good Earth: Chinese Culture and History: Chinese Exclusion Act

Discusses various issues associated with immigration to the United States during the early part of the twentieth century including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Ellis Island, tenements and sweatshops, and the rise of anti-Semitism.

Examines the evolution of the Exclusion Act, looking at the history of Chinese immigration to the United States, the reasons behind the increasing Chinese population, and subsequent attempts to prevent further immigration and encourage Chinese Americans to leave the country.

Describes the experience of Chinese immigrants to the United States in the nineteenth century, their work on the transcontinental railroad, and also discusses the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese workers from entering this country.

Chronicles the experiences of the boys sent from China to the United States at the end of the nineteenth century to become familiar with Western ways and bring back their knowledge to the empire, describing how their knowledge influenced their lives, thinking, and their nation's quest to become a world power.