The Naming of China Beach

"The Chinese Bill Signed,” The Silver State (Unionville, NV), May 9, 1882.

Library of Congress

Why Is the Name “China Beach” Shrouded in Mystery?

There is no clear answer to where the name came from or why it arose, but it is likely that turn-of-the-twentieth century racism against Chinese people in California played a significant role. White people at the time viewed Chinese immigrants, who were attracted to California by economic opportunities even before the Gold Rush, as unfair job competition. The strong Chinese work ethic and the perceived willingness to work for low wages contributed to this perception by white people.

Supreme Court Appellate Counsel Matthew Hall McAllister

UC Berkeley Bancroft Library

Discriminatory federal, state, and local laws increasingly targeted Chinese Americans in the late 1800s. For example, San Francisco prohibited Chinese children from attending public schools and passed laws that targeted Chinese businesses. In 1882, the United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first federal law to halt citizenship and prevent entry of an entire ethnic group. People formed anti-Chinese clubs, and politicians like San Francisco Mayor James D. Phelan and Congressman William Kent spread racist ideas. The Chinese community fought back by hiring the best lawyers of the time to counter these new laws.

On April 14, 1886, Lawyer, Hall McAllister appealed to Supreme Court in habeas corpus on behalf of Yick Wo and Wo Lee alleging that the discriminatory enforcement of the San Francisco Laundry Ordinance violated their rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.