Immigration and citizenship

Japanese immigrants began arriving in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century when workers were recruited to meet the growing need for low-wage laborers in the Territory of Hawaii and on the West Coast. Commodore Perry had opened Japan to American commerce and trade relations in 1853, but anti-Asian sentiment resulted in the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907, which halted the immigration of workers from Japan. In 1910, the Japanese population was about 80,000 in Hawaii and 72,000 on the continental United States. Japanese women continued to enter the country until the 1924 Immigration Act cut off immigration from Japan to the United States. Most of the early Japanese immigrants, the Issei (first generation), came as contract agricultural laborers, although many others were students and merchants. While Japanese immigrants were prohibited by discriminatory laws from becoming naturalized citizens of the United States, their American-born children (nisei) held U.S. citizenship.

Immigration and citizenship (431)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Immigration, Japanese associations

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431 items
Letter from Elmer Davis, Director of Office of War Information, to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-107)
doc Letter from Elmer Davis, Director of Office of War Information, to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-107)
Tsai cannot work for the government as long as he is classified as a citizen of an enemy country.
Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-122)
doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-122)
Request for executive action to change status to "friendly alien" based on prior work for U.S. government in order to avoid deportation, to avoid consequences for wife and baby, and to allow Tsai to be considered for employment in the American Consulate in Formosa and Chinese Embassy [final draft]
Rev. Ai Chih Tsai Biography and Legacy (ddr-densho-446-352)
doc Rev. Ai Chih Tsai Biography and Legacy (ddr-densho-446-352)
Powerpoint for Taiwanese-American Historical Society Exhibit presented on May 17, 2017
Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-98)
doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-98)
Appeal to U.S. President to change Tsai's status so he can work for U.S. in the occupation and rehabilitation of Formosa. Tsai is one of two Chinese Formosans in US. [final draft]
Ai Chih Tsai Chinese Passport (ddr-densho-446-403)
doc Ai Chih Tsai Chinese Passport (ddr-densho-446-403)
After many years of trying, Ai Chih Tsai was issued a Chinese passport which replaced his Japanese passport.
Letter from Ryo Tsai to H.A. Blundin (ddr-densho-446-305)
doc Letter from Ryo Tsai to H.A. Blundin (ddr-densho-446-305)
Ryo has received welcome news that Ai Chih Tsai has received his quota number through the U.S. Consul in Shanghai. Thank you for UNRRA's assistance.
Letter from Ryo Tsai to Chicago Marriage License Bureau (ddr-densho-446-274)
doc Letter from Ryo Tsai to Chicago Marriage License Bureau (ddr-densho-446-274)
Request for a copy of Ai Chih and Ryo Tsai's original marriage certificate
Letter from Ryo Tsai to Seido Ogawa, Congregational Committee for Christian Democracy (ddr-densho-446-280)
doc Letter from Ryo Tsai to Seido Ogawa, Congregational Committee for Christian Democracy (ddr-densho-446-280)
Ai Chih Tsai wants to stay in US for maybe 5 years after his reentry instead of 6 months. Ryo Morikawa Tsai asks Ogawa if there is employment for Ai Chih Tsai. Ryo Morikawa Tsai also looking for a job but unemployment is high. Kenji has a job at the County Fair in Del Mar.
doc "My Life Begins" (ddr-densho-446-350)
My Life Begins (autobiography): Ai Chih's parents, conversion to Christianity, education in Japan, arrival in US on student visa, U of Chicago, Robert Cashman, Keimer Shou, Japanese Christian Church (Chicago), War, Ordination, Meeting Ryo, Marriage, Navy-Columbia U, War Dept.-D.C., MD, US Strategic Bombing Survey, UNRRA
Letter from Hugh Borton to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-130)
doc Letter from Hugh Borton to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-130)
Department of State "will do whatever is within its jurisdiction to further your cause."
UNRRA Certificate of Identity (ddr-densho-446-404)
doc UNRRA Certificate of Identity (ddr-densho-446-404)
ACS Certificate of Identity issued by United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA)
Letter from Henry P. Chandler to Dr. Harrison Ray Anderson (ddr-densho-446-126)
doc Letter from Henry P. Chandler to Dr. Harrison Ray Anderson (ddr-densho-446-126)
Have Mr. Tsai meet with me and I will help if possible. Includes second letter from Dr. Anderson to Ryo (Morikawa) Tsai below the fold.
Letter from R.K. DuMoulin to Cecil H. H. Wang, CC: Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-240)
doc Letter from R.K. DuMoulin to Cecil H. H. Wang, CC: Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-240)
Letter of introduction for Ai Chih Tsai; the American Consulate will issue him an entry visa upon the extension of his passport
Letter from Robert Cashman to whom it may concern (ddr-densho-446-103)
doc Letter from Robert Cashman to whom it may concern (ddr-densho-446-103)
Cashman vouches for Tsai. Cashman explains that he advised Tsai to cancel his application for Chinese citizenship and thus friendly alien status.
Letter from Earl G. Harrison, US Dept. of Justice Commissioner, to Ryo Morikawa (ddr-densho-446-76)
doc Letter from Earl G. Harrison, US Dept. of Justice Commissioner, to Ryo Morikawa (ddr-densho-446-76)
Response to Ryo Morikawa: Marriage to a Japanese citizen has no impact on American citizenship. Nationality Act of 1940 attached (4 pages).
Letter from Gordon K. Chapman to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-283)
doc Letter from Gordon K. Chapman to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-283)
Response to Tsai's letter with request for employment. Chapman will present offer to Japanese ministers conference. Note that others are waiting for positions.
Letter from Charles E. Frank to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-207)
doc Letter from Charles E. Frank to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-207)
Immigration and Naturalization Service office in San Francisco is being furnished with Tsai's change of name, citizenship, etc.
Letter from Robert Cashman to Ryo Tsai (ddr-densho-446-282)
doc Letter from Robert Cashman to Ryo Tsai (ddr-densho-446-282)
Enclosed is a letter from Ai Chih Tsai. Request for update on the status of his need for a job
Letter from Stan Olson, Immigration and Naturalization Service, to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-225)
doc Letter from Stan Olson, Immigration and Naturalization Service, to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-225)
Period of temporary stay has expired. Notify office of departure or apply for extension. Two blank attached forms: Form I-535.
Letter from Robert Cashman to American Consul General in Shanghai (ddr-densho-446-276)
doc Letter from Robert Cashman to American Consul General in Shanghai (ddr-densho-446-276)
Refers to Ai Chih Tsai's May 26 letter regarding the requirement for him to enter the US as an immigrant. Affidavit in support of Ai Chih Tsai
Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-206)
doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-206)
As of 3 weeks ago, Tsai received his Chinese citizenship papers, but he entered the US in San Francisco with a Japanese passport Please notify the Port of Entry of name spelling change ("Ai-chih Tsai" from "Ai Chi Sai") and Chinese citizenship.
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