The majority of immigrants originated from a small area in China's Guangdong province. In this region, there were eight districts. Of these districts, only half of them possessed fertile soil. Of the fertile soil, only 10% of it was supported by moderate climate for agriculture. This region was densely populated with 28 million people crammed into the one province (Plumblossom Centre 3). The large population led to a shortage of arable land. Those who did not own fields had a difficult time finding food for themselves as well as their family, while those who did own fields had to pay higher rent for farmland.
During the late 1800s, civil war, floods, droughts, and eventually famine ravaged southern China. Farmers were forced to join the army and the Chinese government could not contain law and order. Small civil wars occurred between peasant families, while the Taiping Rebellion claimed the lives of 20 million people across China (Plumblossom Centre 4).
During the late 1800s, civil war, floods, droughts, and eventually famine ravaged southern China. Farmers were forced to join the army and the Chinese government could not contain law and order. Small civil wars occurred between peasant families, while the Taiping Rebellion claimed the lives of 20 million people across China (Plumblossom Centre 4).
The combination of unstable agriculture and a destructive government caused thousands of Chinese to emigrate from China to British Columbia, filled with new colonies and a new start. They could escape a life of poverty and starvation and have a new beginning, with new opportunities.
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