Process Paper
“Hereafter, we are to keep our hand on the doorknob and admit only those whose presence we desire”
-Chicago Times, 1882
So said the Chicago Times in 1882. For my project, I felt that something having to do with the Chinese would be a good idea. Because I am of Chinese descent, I decided to document something to do with the anti-Chinese movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some preliminary background research led me to my current topic of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which from my point of view is still one of the most undocumented wrongs in American history. So, I decided to work on it as my topic.
I conducted my research in several ways. First, I used the databases Ebsco and Gale to find sources and facts. Next, I went to sites like Calisphere to get primary sources and political cartoons. I found many great books from the library as well. I used Noodletools to create 80 notecards in which I took a quote, summarized it, and processed it. After 4 months of research, I was ready to begin my project.
It took a while for me to decide what presentation category I wanted to do. At first, I thought of doing a documentary; however I then realized I did not have the technological capabilities. Then, I considered an exhibit but I felt that my artistic skills were too lacking. Finally, I decided on website as the best choice for me. I created an account on nhd.weebly.com and went to work. I then finished a skeletal structure of my site before I developed my thesis, then filled in the gaps by adding facts which proved my thesis.
My project relates to the National History Day theme in several ways. WIth the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, the US set a national policy of using race as a way to determine which laws were to be passed. The Chinese Exclusion Act denied poor Chinese farmers the right to immigrate into the US for a better life. This was the work of many radicals and politicians who took upon themselves the responsibility of excluding the Chinese.
Next page: Annotated Bibliography