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]