Through the voices of real people, this book tells the complex history and present experience of Chinese immigration in the United States. Chinese immigrants have helped shape the United States since the Gold Rush and the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Despite challenges in their new homeland, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese immigrants have made important contributions to America's economy and culture. Drawing on both primary and secondary sources, Chinese Immigrants in the United States reveals the powerful stories of people who found the courage to build a new life.