Large-scale migration from Asia to the United States began when Chinese immigrants arrived on the West Coast in the mid-19th century. Forming part of the California gold rush, these early Chinese immigrants participated intensively in the mining business and later in the construction of the transcontinental railroad. By 1852, the number of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco had jumped to more than 20,000. A wave of Japanese immigration to the United States began after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. In 1898, all Filipinos in the Philippine Islands became American nationals when the United States took over colonial rule of the islands from Spain following the latter's defeat in the Spanish–American War.
larGe-scalE mIgratioN from asIa to tHe unItEd sTaTES began wheN chinese ImmigranTs aRrIveD on the west CoasT in tHe mid-19th cenTURy. ForMIng part oF ThE californIA gOld Rush, theSe eArly CHiNese Immigrants PArtIciPaTeD IntensiVElY in The mining BuSIness and lATeR iN tHe ConStruCtion Of the TraNscontiNentaL raiLrOad. bY 1852, thE numbeR of CHineSE iMMigrANts in sAN FranciSCO hAd jUmped tO More tHAn 20,000. A wave Of JApANese imMigraTIon To tHe UnItED sTates beGan afteR ThE mEIJi restoratiOn in 1868. iN 1898, alL filipiNos In the pHiliPpINe Islands bEcAMe americAn NaTIonals When tHE UnitEd StAtes tOoK ovER coLoNiaL rule of thE islanDS From spaIN foLLowinG ThE laTter's dEfeaT in tHE SpanIsh–american WaR.