A CHatGPT-Using Learning Activity Pertaining to the Railroad Chinese

Designed for middle school and high school US history students

This activity calls on students, working in groups of 2–3, to write ten letters from the perspective of Hung Wah, a character mentioned periodically in Professor Gordon Chang’s book, “The Epic Story of the Chinese Transcontinental Railroad Worker.”

Each letter must be addressed to Hung Wah’s father, with at least five letters describing what Hung Wah experienced while serving as a labor contractor for the Central Pacific Railroad company in its attempt to build a railroad from Sacramento, California to Promontory Point, Utah, in the years between 1863 and 1869.

To produce these letters, students must first acquire a copy of “The Epic Story of the Chinese Transcontinental Railroad Worker.” Then they must identify all references to Hung Wah. The index to Professor Chang’s book should prove helpful.

Now it’s time to begin working on Letter #1.

Letter #1 and its Parameters

This letter should read as if written shortly before bedtime from a boarding house several hours after Hung Wah’s arrival in San Francisco on March 18, 1850.

Now Scour Chang’s Book For Information to Work into Letter #1

A scouring of Chang’s book will result in the students finding much information that could be worked into the first letter, with most of this information found on page 16 and page 100.

Hung Wah was born in Guangdong Province, China in 1935, with a name translated roughly from Chinese as “working together harmoniously.”

He (arrived ) in the United States in 1850, two years after James Marshall finds flakes of gold in the American River at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Coloma, California.

(He was) one of the first from the Siyi to arrive in Gold Mountain.

He (could) read and write in his own native language.

He had some command of English. He could speak some English.

He was far from meek and quiet.

He could be garrulous and disputatious.

He was ambitious and entrepreneurial.

Even at age fifteen), he was determined to stay faithful and connected to his family living in China.

He (arrived) with three other Chinese men, Sing Wah (age twenty-four), Sung Wah (age thirty-three), and Ki Sung (age thirty-five). Their ages suggest that they were closely related — brothers or perhaps cousins.

(After a few days in San Francisco,) he made his way to Auburn in the heart of California’s gold country.

Census records offer a possible glimpse into his background. The 1860 census identifies Hung Wah as being twenty-nine years old at the time and his occupation as “a miner.

He passed away in 1931.

Now Search for Additional Information to Work into Letter #1

Next up, ask CHatGPT to give you “ten good questions relating to the story of Hung Wah’s travel to the U.S., being sure to start with the question: On what kind of boat did Hung Wah cross the Pacific? Then move on to how long did the trip typically take? How many miles did Hung Wah travel? What was going on in Guangdong Province at the time? Then answer each of the ten questions in ten sentences or less.”

Below, is how CHatGPT responded to this request.

Q1. What kind of boat did Hung Wah travel on to the United States? In the 1850s, most Chinese immigrants to the United States, including those who came during the California Gold Rush, traveled on sailing ships, also known as clipper ships. These ships were faster than traditional sailing ships and could make the journey from China to the United States in about three months. Clipper ships were large, fast sailing ships that were used to transport goods and passengers between San Francisco and China in the mid-19th century. These ships were known for their sleek design and ability to “clip” through the water quickly, earning them their name. They typically measured around 200 feet in length and could carry up to 600 tons of cargo. Clipper ships were often used to transport goods such as tea, silk, and porcelain. However, they were also used to transport Chinese immigrants to the United States. One famous clipper ship that travelled between China and San Francisco was the Frolic. Steam-powered ships were not widely used for trans-Pacific travel until later in the 19th century.

Q2. How long did the typical voyage from China to the United States take during the 1850s? During the 1850s, the typical voyage from China to the United States took around three to four months by sailboat, depending on the weather and the specific route taken by the ship.

Q3. How many miles did Hung Wah and other Chinese immigrants typically travel to reach the United States? During the 1850s, Chinese immigrants typically traveled around 8,000 miles to reach the United States from China.

Q4. What was happening in Guangdong Province, China during the time of Hung Wah’s journey to the United States? During the time of Hung Wah’s journey to the United States in 1850, Guangdong Province, China was experiencing economic and social changes due to the increasing demand for Chinese labor in foreign countries, particularly in the United States. Many Chinese immigrants, like Hung Wah, were leaving the province to seek better economic opportunities abroad. Additionally, Guangdong Province was also facing political turmoil and instability due to the Taiping Rebellion, which began in 1851 and lasted for over a decade. It was a civil war that lasted for 14 years. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, which is estimated to have caused the deaths of 20–30 million people. This war also caused mass migration of people from the region.

Q5. What were the conditions like on board the ship during the voyage? Living conditions for Chinese immigrants on board ships during their voyage to the United States in the 1850s were often cramped, unsanitary, and uncomfortable. Many immigrants were packed into crowded, poorly ventilated spaces, with little room to move around. Food was often scarce and of poor quality, and there was limited access to clean water. Health conditions were poor, with many Chinese suffering from seasickness, malnutrition, and diseases such as dysentery and cholera. Additionally, the Chinese often had little to do on board. Overall, the living conditions on board the ship during the voyage were difficult and challenging for Chinese immigrants.

Q6. What was the process for Chinese immigrants to enter the United States in the 1850s? During the 1850s, the process for Chinese immigrants to enter the United States was relatively unregulated. Many immigrants, like Hung Wah, arrived by ship and were often subject to discriminatory treatment and discriminatory laws, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which effectively banned Chinese immigration for over 60 years. Upon arrival, immigrants were often required to pass through the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay, where they would be subject to interrogations and physical examinations. Those who passed these screenings were granted entry, while others were detained or deported. The process was often lengthy and difficult, and many immigrants were forced to wait for months or even years before being granted entry to the United States.

Q7. What impact did the discovery of gold in California have on the number of Chinese immigrants arriving in the United States? he discovery of gold in California in 1848 had a significant impact on the number of Chinese immigrants arriving in the United States. The California Gold Rush drew thousands of prospectors, merchants, and other individuals from around the world to the state in search of wealth. Many Chinese immigrants, known as “Siyi” or “sojourners,” also came to California in search of gold and other opportunities. The population of Chinese immigrants in California grew rapidly in the 1850s and 1860s, as more and more people from China came to the United States in search of a better life.

Q8. What were some of the challenges and obstacles that Chinese immigrants like Hung Wah faced upon arrival in the United States? Discrimination and racism from white Americans -Difficulties finding and maintaining employment -Rough living conditions in overcrowded and unsanitary housing -Language barriers and difficulties communicating with others -Lack of legal protections and rights -Violence and harassment directed towards Chinese immigrants -Difficulties sending money back to their families in China -Limited access to education and social services -Inadequate medical care and high rates of illness and disease.

Q9. How many Chinese were there in the United States at the end of 1850? It is estimated that there were around 20,000 Chinese immigrants in the United States at the end of 1850. This number was relatively small compared to the population of the overall country, but it represented a significant increase from the handful of Chinese immigrants who had come to the U.S. in the decades prior. The majority of these early Chinese immigrants were men who came to the United States to work in the gold mines

Q10. Where in San Francisco would the Chinese overnight when first arriving in 1850? When the first Chinese immigrants arrived in San Francisco in 1850, they would have overnighted in various places around the city, depending on their resources and social connections. Some may have stayed in boarding houses or lodging houses, which were often overcrowded and unsanitary. Others may have stayed with friends or relatives, if they had any in the city. Many Chinese immigrants, however, would have stayed in the area of the city known as Chinatown, which was a densely populated, predominantly Chinese neighborhood that had emerged in the mid-19th century. This area was located near the waterfront and was characterized by narrow, crowded streets and cramped, poorly-built housing.

Now Fact Check CHatGPT

It is important to remember that while the information provided by CHatGPT is based on historical research, it is possible for CHatGPT to provide factual information that is false. As a language model, CHatGPT is trained on a wide range of text from the internet and other sources, some of which may be inaccurate or outdated. It is therefore important to verify any information provided by CHatGPT. Students should never hesitate to fact-check CHatGPT.

Now Ask CHatGPT to Draft Letter #1

To do this, I simply asked CHatGPT the following: “Write me a letter from Hung Wah to his dad in China. Assume Hung Wah came to the United States in 1850 to search for gold. I want this letter to describe the journey.”

Below is the response I received.

My dearest father,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to you from the land of opportunity, the United States of America. My journey here was long and arduous, but I am finally here and I am eager to tell you all about it.

I set sail from Guangdong Province on a clipper ship, bound for San Francisco. The voyage was treacherous, with rough seas and cramped conditions. Many of my fellow passengers became ill, but I was lucky to remain healthy. The journey took about four months and we sailed for about 6,000 miles.

Now Work With CHatGPT to Revise its First Draft to Letter #1

I was not at all satisfied with this response, so I provided CHatGPT with additional prompts and feedback. After SEVERAL iterations, CHatGPT generated a response that met my expectations though this draft still required some revisions and adjustments on my end. Below, my final draft.

The Final Draft — Letter #1

March 18, 1850

My dearesst father,

I can hardly believe it. The cousins and I finally arrived in America, but what a trip.

It not only took us three months to get here but it was also so horribly grueling, with sleeping conditions that can best be described as cramped and uncomfortable, and food that can be described as barely edible. As for the passengers, it was packed to the gills with Chinese immigrants like myself, all seeking a better life in the California gold mines.

In case you’re wondering, the ship was name the Frolic. She was what’s called a clipper ship and I spent most of my days on deck, watching the endless expanse of the ocean and dreaming of the new life that awaited me. There was nothing else to do.

Upon arrival, I immediately went in search of food. When walking the streets, I felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty. The city was bustling with people from all over the world, all eager to strike it rich in the gold mines. I could hardly take it all in.

Then, when it started to get dark, I went in search of a place to overnight, though the only place I could find was at a boarding house in a densely populated and predominantly Chinese section of the city located near the waterfront and characterized by narrow, crowded streets and cramped, poorly-built housing.

Now, as I lay in the boarding house bed, about to call it a night, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed after all the dreams and expectations I had built up in my mind.

I also can’t help but wonder what the future holds for me here in America. Will I be able to find work and make a living? Will I be able to send money back home to you? Will I ever marry and have children. So many questions and doubts swirl in my mind, but I know I must have faith and determination if I am to succeed in this new land.

I miss home and my family dearly, but I know I made the right decision in coming to America. I will do everything in my power to make a better life for myself and for those I love.

Your loving son,
Hung Wah

A Suggestion for Letter #2

Now it’s time to see what the students can do. For Letter #2, I suggest that it read as if it had been composed on August 10, 1850, from Hung Wah’s cabin in Auburn in the heart of California’s gold country. The main focus of the letter should be to inform Hung Wah’s father that he has discovered gold and to provide details on the process of how it was found. Additionally, the letter should address any anti-Chinese violence and harassment Hung Wah has encountered, and a description of his journey from San Francisco to Auburn could be included.

A Suggestion for Letter #3

I suggest that Letter #3 be composed on May 31, 1852, from Hung Wah’s cabin in Auburn. The main focus of the letter should be to inform his father that the California legislature passed, earlier in the month, passed a second Foreign Miners Tax, this time targeting Chinese competitors for golden riches. This letter should also share what Hung Wah and his fellow Chinese gold miners think and feel about this new law.

In Closing

When done, these ten letters should not only provide those who produced these letters with a better understanding of what it was like to be a Chinese immigrant living in America from 1850 to 1931, but it should also provide the students with a better idea of what it was like to be a Chinese Transcontinental Railroad Worker.

The Power of Collaboration
This blog post is a collaboration between myself and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. While ChatGPT provided invaluable assistance in editing and refining some of the paragraphs, all of the ideas and concepts discussed are solely my own and reflect my own thoughts and perspectives.”