The Road To And From China
True West|July 2018

The Burlingame Act brought Chinese workers to the American West—for a time.

Mark Boardman
The Road To And From China

Anson Burlingame is a name mostly forgotten today. But over a 22-year period, from the early 1860s through mid-1880s, he was well known in two continents.

The career politician and diplomat was appointed the minister to the Qing Dynasty that ruled China. Part of his charge: open up that country to U.S. trade and services. He was so good in establishing relations with the Qing that in 1867, when he was set to retire, the dynasty hired him as an envoy to the U.S. and Europe.

This story is from the July 2018 edition of True West.

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This story is from the July 2018 edition of True West.

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