A Chinaman's Chance: The Chinese on the Rocky Mountain Mining Frontier

By Zhu Liping and Liping Zhu

Book Overview

Writers and historians have traditionally portrayed Chinese immigrants in the nineteenth-century American West as victims. By investigating the early history of Idaho's Boise Basin, Liping Zhu challenges this image and offers an alternative discourse to the study of this ethnic minority.Between 1863 and 1910, a large number of Chinese immigrants resided in the Boise Basin to search for gold. As in many Rocky Mountain mining camps, they comprised a majority of the population. Unlike settlers in many other boom-and-bust western mining towns, the Chinese in the Boise Basin managed to stay there for more than half a century.

Thus, the Chinese portrayed all the stereotypical frontier roles-victors, victims, and villains. Their basic material needs were guaranteed, and many individuals were able to climb up the economic ladder. Frontier justice was used to settle disputes; Chinese-Americans frequently challenged white opponents in the various courts as well as in gun battles.

Interesting and provocative, A Chinaman's Chance not only offers general readers a narrative account of the Rocky Mountain mining frontier, but also introduces a fresh interpretation of the Chinese experience in nineteenth-century America to scholars interested in Asian American studies, immigration history, and ethnicity in the American West.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 087081575X
• ISBN13: 9780870815751
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: University Press of Colorado
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

This book will open your eyes!!!

I strongly recommend this book. It is about time that someone wrote a book about the virtues of the Chinese people living in the western U.S. during the 19th century. Most similar books concentrate on the discrimination and other injustices done to the Chinese workers who worked on the railroads, for example. "A Chinaman's Chance," however, focuses on the positive Chinese experiences. Did you know that the Chinese had superior eating habits and work ethics? Hidong Sidong was the first Chinese man to lead an asian hiking expedition in the 19th century. Did you know that? Do you know who invented Rocky Mountain oyster stew? I strongly recommend this book.

An innovative, pathbreaking work on the Chinese in America.

Recent scholars have begun to examine the impact of the ethnic experience in the American West unlike ever before. Most have concluded that ethnic immigrants have had little opportunity for advancement in the United States. Professor Zhu counters this arguement with his pathbreaking work, A CHINAMAN'S CHANCE, THE CHINESE ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN MINING FRONTIER. Rather than depicting the Chinese as helpless victims, unable to fend for themselves in a new land, the author demonstrates that not all immigrants allowed themselves to be victims. Using the American legal system, armed opposition, frugal economy, a superior diet, and adaptation to the environment, the Chinese of the Boise Basin, Idaho displayed a resilency hardly matched by European immigrants and even American migrants to the Rocky Mountain West.This study is a must-read for students of the American West and Frontier and those interested in ethnic history in Victorian American. His research is impeccable, his writing witty, and his commitment to telling a real, even compelling story is unprecedented in ethnic history.A CHINAMAN'S CHANCE is outstanding history!

New interpretation

A well researched and written book. I used to live in Idaho and heard of a lot of stories about the Chinese experience in the area. But this book gives me new imformation. We do have to pay more attention to positive aspects of ethnic minorities. I enjoy reading this book.

This book is about the exception to the rule.

This is a clearly-written and well-researched case study about nineteenth-century Chinese immigrants who come to Idaho in search of mineral wealth. Rather than focus on racial discrimination and violence, Professor Zhu makes the case that while there were problems, there were also opportunities. In telling this neglected story of success and achievement, the author reveals a more complicated picture of the Chinese experience on the western frontier.

A well researched and written book

Writers and historians have traditionally portrayed Chinese immigrants in the nineteenth-century American West as victims. Using the Boise Basin, Idaho, as a case study, Liping Zhu challenges the stereotypypical image of the Chinese pioners. Like other pioneers, the Chinese immigrants in this unique Rocky Mountain mining region had equal access to the pursuit of happiness. The American frontier provided the Chinese miners with various opportunities. The Chinese enjoyed certains rights as well. The argument is well supported by solid evidence. The narrative style of writing also strengthens this work. It is a must-read book for anyone who is interested in race relations, ethnic immigration, and cultural history.