History of Asian Immigration
In 1788, a small group of Chinese settled in New South Wales. But the first wave of Asian immigration to Australia did not begin until the late-1800s, almost 100 years after the first wave of European immigration. One major reason that Asians did not leave their homelands was that their societies were relatively stable. Asia did not experience the revolutions that brought political, economic, and social changes to Europe. The people had little reason to leave in search of a better life. But by the mid-1900s, the traditional Asian systems began to prove ineffective in the face of increasing social problems. The first major social crises erupted in China. The government began to weaken under repeated foreign invasions, domestic revolts, and problems caused by overpopulation. The rulers could no longer control people who wanted to leave the country.
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