1852: 195 Chinese contract laborers are sent to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations. Over 20,000 Chinese live in California; many of them have immigrated to work in gold mines. California is commonly referred to by the Chinese as the "Gold Mountain."

1982: A Chinese American named Vincent Chin is beaten death in Detroit for being "Japanese."

1907: The "Gentleman's Agreement" is formed between the United States and Japan and prohibits the entry of Japanese into America.

1987: The U.S. House of Representative votes to make an official apology to Japanese Americans and their families affected by the World War II internment. Plans are made to pay each surviving internee $20,000. The action is supported by the Senate in 1987, and by President George Bush in 1989.

1882: Chinese Exclusion Act is passed. Terms of the law effectively prohibit entry of Chinese immigrants into the United States for 10 years. In 1892, Chinese immigration is...