Becoming Transnational Through Assimilation: Emergence of National/Ethnic Identity Among Chinese Migrants in Late Nineteenth‐Century Chicago

Abstract

Abstract:This paper explores the transnationalism seen among Chicago's Chinese migrants in tandem with their Americanization in the late 19th century. While migrants’ transnationalism has several dimensions, the focus of this paper has been placed on their political practices, so‐called “long‐distance nationalism.” Previous studies on migrants’ transnationalism tended to assume marginalization in and a failure to assimilate into a host society as a reason for migrants’ maintaining their ties to their countries of origin. A historical study of the migrants, however, showed another picture: transnationalism and assimilation processes could be reconciled. In order to explain how this is possible, this paper provides in the first part a background on the Chinese enclave in Chicago. Here the paper illustrates how seriously divided the Chinese community was over the difference of clan. The second part is divided into three sections and shows the process by which migrants became politically transnational. First, it deals with the emerging “Chinese” consciousness of migrants, elaborating on how such an inclusive awareness began to appear while they mobilized into a movement demanding naturalization and citizenship rights. In the course of such a movement, they promoted the Americanization of Chinese migrants. Second, how such processes, that is, the emergence of “Chinese” consciousness and assimilation proceeded at the same time is explained. Third, the paper shows how and when Chinese Chicagoans became politically involved in homeland politics. Throughout the paper, the idea of transnationalism is considered in relation to assimilation.