In June of 1867, two thousand Chinese Transcontinental Railroad workers participated in a general strike (a collective action) for a week along the Sierra Nevada range, demanding better working conditions.[1] By 1867, the Central Pacific Railroad workforce was composed of 80-90% Chinese laborers and the rest were European-Americans.[2] The workers in the Chinese project were literate and well organized, but left no written records.[3] Despite the lack of written account from the Chinese workers, it is apparent from reports in the press and from the railroad bosses that the Chinese workers were hard-working, peaceful, and that the strike was carried out with no violence.[4] The strike was organized in June, at the time of the Summer Solstice, and carried it out a way that strongly reflected Confucian values.[4] The strike lasted a little over a week, and the workers returned peacefully to work.[5]
The main historical record for the Chinese Labor Strike of 1867 has come from a Stanford University initiative called the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project.[6] This repository covers the Chinese Labor Strike of 1867 and includes research materials,[7] a bibliography,[8] a digital materials repository,[9] exhibits,[10] a curriculum guide[11] and oral histories with railroad worker descendants.[12]