Seattle riot of 1886
Encyclopedia
The Seattle riot of 1886 resulted from anti-Chinese sentiment, which was prevalent in the Western United States
during the 19th century. The events culminated in March 1886 but the build-up to the violence began in late summer 1885 as a result of a concerted effort by regional Knights of Labor leaders.
that led the organized movement against Chinese workers in Seattle. The Knights, in Washington Territory
, were only loosely affiliated with the national organization. The chapter's organizer was Daniel Cronin, a 38-year-old carpenter who came to the Puget Sound
area via California
during the summer of 1885. Under Cronin's leadership, the Washington Knights of Labor went from a loose-knit band of workers to an organized and militant "brotherhood". In September 1885, Cronin warned Seattle's workers that riot and bloodshed would follow during the winter if the Chinese were not removed. It was Cronin and the leadership of the Knights of Labor that planned for the systematic expulsion of Seattle's Chinese; the group organized a territorial anti-Chinese congress and declared that all Chinese must leave Seattle by November 1, 1885. After the formation of local coordinating committees, Cronin stepped away from his post as Knights leader and left the Chinese expulsion, largely, to other individuals.
When the Home Guards tried to get the throng of Chinese
workers to return to their homes, the crowd rioted and the deputies fired into the crowd; one person was killed and four others wounded. As a result of the riot, U.S. President Grover Cleveland
and Squire declared martial law
in the city. Troops were ordered into the Puget Sound area from Fort Vancouver
, a contingent stayed in Tacoma, where rioting had also occurred, and 350 moved on to Seattle to prevent further expulsion of the Chinese. The state militia and the federal troops eventually assisted in quelling the riot.
Eventually passions in Seattle cooled, as they did elsewhere, as most of the Chinese immigrants ended up departing.
Congress paid $276,619.15 to the Chinese government in compensation for the rioting, but the actual victims never saw any such compensation.
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
during the 19th century. The events culminated in March 1886 but the build-up to the violence began in late summer 1885 as a result of a concerted effort by regional Knights of Labor leaders.
Build-up
It was the Knights of LaborKnights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was the largest and one of the most important American labor organizations of the 1880s. Its most important leader was Terence Powderly...
that led the organized movement against Chinese workers in Seattle. The Knights, in Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
, were only loosely affiliated with the national organization. The chapter's organizer was Daniel Cronin, a 38-year-old carpenter who came to the Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
area via California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during the summer of 1885. Under Cronin's leadership, the Washington Knights of Labor went from a loose-knit band of workers to an organized and militant "brotherhood". In September 1885, Cronin warned Seattle's workers that riot and bloodshed would follow during the winter if the Chinese were not removed. It was Cronin and the leadership of the Knights of Labor that planned for the systematic expulsion of Seattle's Chinese; the group organized a territorial anti-Chinese congress and declared that all Chinese must leave Seattle by November 1, 1885. After the formation of local coordinating committees, Cronin stepped away from his post as Knights leader and left the Chinese expulsion, largely, to other individuals.
Riot
On February 7, 1886, a mob rounded up Seattle's Chinese and took them to where ships were waiting to transport them away. The police made a futile attempt to protect the Chinese but the mob was insatiable and continued to riot accordingly. The governor of Washington, Watson Squire, ordered that the ship not be allowed to leave the dock. The next morning more than 350 Chinese gathered at the shore to await the next ship for San Francisco, due in six days. 200 of the Chinese embarked for San Francisco on the first ship, leaving some 150 others on shore, stranded.When the Home Guards tried to get the throng of Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
workers to return to their homes, the crowd rioted and the deputies fired into the crowd; one person was killed and four others wounded. As a result of the riot, U.S. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
and Squire declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
in the city. Troops were ordered into the Puget Sound area from Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
, a contingent stayed in Tacoma, where rioting had also occurred, and 350 moved on to Seattle to prevent further expulsion of the Chinese. The state militia and the federal troops eventually assisted in quelling the riot.
Eventually passions in Seattle cooled, as they did elsewhere, as most of the Chinese immigrants ended up departing.
Congress paid $276,619.15 to the Chinese government in compensation for the rioting, but the actual victims never saw any such compensation.
See also
- Anti-Chinese violence in OregonAnti-Chinese violence in OregonAnti-Chinese violence in Oregon began while the present-day U.S. state was still the Oregon Territory .In Oregon mobs drove Chinese workers out of small towns and workplaces territory-wide in the winter of 1885 and summer of 1886. Many of the Chinese expelled across Oregon made their way to...
- Anti-Chinese violence in WashingtonAnti-Chinese violence in WashingtonThere were at least several incidents of anti-Chinese violence in Washington, a United States territory and later, a U.S. state, which occurred during the 19th Century. Following the Rock Springs Massacre, in Wyoming, in September 1885 a wave of anti-Chinese riots and incidents occurred in Washington...
- Chinese Massacre CoveChinese Massacre CoveChinese Massacre Cove is an area along the Snake River in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. It is located in the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest and the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, upriver from the Snake's confluence with the Imnaha River....
- Rock Springs MassacreRock Springs MassacreThe Rock Springs massacre, also known as the Rock Springs Riot, occurred on September 2, 1885, in the present-day United States city of Rock Springs, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County...
- Issaquah riot of 1885Issaquah riot of 1885The Attack on Squak Valley Chinese laborers took place on September 7, 1885, in Squak Valley , Washington Territory, when a group of men fired their guns into several tents where a group of Chinese hop pickers were sleeping. The gunfire resulted in the death of three Chinese men and the wounding...
- Tacoma riot of 1885Tacoma riot of 1885The Tacoma riot of 1885 took place in the present day U.S. state of Washington, which was a territory at the time. It involved mobs expelling Chinese immigrants from the city of Tacoma, Washington...
- History of Seattle before 1900History of Seattle before 1900-Introduction:Two conflicting perspectives exist for the early history of Seattle. There is what one might call the "establishment" view, which favors the centrality of the Denny Party , and Henry Yesler...
External links
- Anti-Chinese Riot at Seattle, Harper’s Weekly, March 6, 1886, p. 155, including illustrations.
- George Kinnear Anti-Chinese Riots At Seattle, Wn., February 8th, 1886, originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 1, 1911. Full text online on Wikisource.