Anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States began in the 19th century, shortly after Chinese immigrants first arrived in North America, and persists into the 21st century.[1] This prejudice has manifested in many forms, including racist immigration policies, violence, and massacres. The first major wave of anti-Chinese violence occurred in the 1860s during the construction of world's first transcontinental railroad, driven by job competition with American workers and negative, unsubstantiated reports from Americans who had lived in China.[2]
Although relations between the US and China normalized after the Sino-Soviet split and the 1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, anti-Chinese sentiment has increased in the United States since the end of the Cold War, especially since the 2010s and in the 2020s, and its increase has been attributed to China's rise as a superpower, which is perceived as a primary threat to America's position as the world's sole superpower.[7][8][9] Since 2019, xenophobia and racism have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was first detected in Wuhan, China. This has led to heightened discrimination and violence against Chinese individuals and those perceived to be of Chinese descent, particularly Asians. This surge in xenophobia is a continuation of the long history of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States.[10][11][12][13][14]
^Guisepi, Robert A. (January 29, 2007). "Asian Americans". World History International. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
^Reny, Tyler T.; Barreto, Matt A. (May 28, 2020). "Xenophobia in the time of pandemic: othering, anti-Asian attitudes, and COVID-19". Politics, Groups, and Identities. 10 (2): 209–232. doi:10.1080/21565503.2020.1769693. ISSN2156-5503. S2CID219749159.