Asian Americans

Good Americans
Short Answer

During the Cold War years, Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority
and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. It is also a time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans
aspire for the first time to national political office and a coming culture-quake simmers beneath
the surface.

Directions: Answer the following questions below.

1. Many Asian Americans joined the military to fight during World War II to demonstrate their
pride and protection of the United States. 442 nd Combat Battalion in Europe, which is made up
of all second generation Japanese Americans. These are known as the ____________. This
battalion saved Texas soldiers on what was considered a suicide mission behind enemy lines.

2. After the 1940’s Asian Americans (Japanese and Chinese Americans) were championed for their
successes. They were the “good immigrants.” Mrs. Goon was the first Asian selected and
honored with what title? Her eight children held professions such as doctors, lawyers, Navy
personnel amongst others. They were highly successful.

3. The 1950’s was a prosperous time, but also a time of limited diversity and acceptance of
outsiders. Asian Americans were deemed a “model minority.” This means they identify first as
an American and secondly and privately as Asian. Asian Americans do not expect handouts and
act grateful. Model minorities, the Asian Americans, were also expected to
___________________.

4. White Americans were threatened of the success of their minority Asian American counterparts.
There were only specific jobs available for Asian Americans because they were the jobs that
white Americans did not want. There was a surplus of what kind of job for Asian Americans?

5. During the Cold War, what other demographic of people were persecuted besides minorities
and communists?
6. Asian Americans utilized something called the paper son phenomena in the 1950’s. Asian
Americans forged paperwork to have fraudulent identities to remain in the United States. The
FBI would infiltrate this in the Chinese communities. FBI Agents would threaten families into
confessing in regards to the fake paperwork. What was this United States government program
called? This was considered government terrorism and the program was not terminated until
1966.

7. Because of the sheer number of Asians in one area, where do Asian Americans have a voice?

8. _________________ was an Asian American from Hawaii. She would go on to study at the
University of Chicago and graduated from law school. However, she could not get a job
practicing law because she was a woman, was from Hawaii, and a mother. Later, she would
become a politician and championed for all minority rights and for women’s rights.

9. As a territory, Hawaii’s statehood was debated during this time period. The debate was over if
Hawaii become an independent nation or would it become a state. Hiram Fong is a descendant
of poverty-stricken Chinese immigrants. He would then become an ideal American as a self-
made millionaire. He would be the first Asian elected into the ___________.

10. The period of exclusion repeal starts with the Chinese Exclusion Laws and ends with the Hart-
Celler Act, also known as The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. It abolished an earlier
quota system based on national origin and established a new immigration policy based on
reuniting immigrant families and attracting skilled labor to the United States