Page 11 - CCBA-LA-125th-2014

125 Anniversary

th 週年

根據美國2010年全美人口普查的資料顯 南京建立太平天國，隨後又有清朝剿滅太
示，當前在美華人的移民人口中，如果以 平天國，廣東、廣西等地更是兵荒馬亂，
單一，以及與其他族裔的混合，超過三百 民不聊生；許多人被迫往外地謀生。
三十三萬人。 According to The United States Immigra-
According to the 2010 United States Cen- tion records, Chinese immigrants began to
sus data, the Chinese population alone, stream into the United States in 1820. The
as in not including respondents identify- majority of the immigrants arrived in 1850,
ing as any other detailed Asian group, was and it wasn’t until 1853 that the United
3,347,229. States government adopted more stringent
immigration laws. There were many rea-
許多大城市都有華埠（中國城），以及中 sons why the Chinese immigrated, rang-
華會館的設立。現今隨著中國大陸移民的 ing from attractions and explorations of
增加，越來越多的地區也都有華人團體。 the West to pursuing a better life. The main
此外，根據2003年到2006年各國政府的統 reason, however, was to escape from the
計數字，全球五大洲的華人人口數將近五 endless chaos caused by civil war back in
千萬人，可謂是有水源的地方就有華人。 Mainland China.
Most of the important cities have estab-
lished Chinatowns and Chinese Consoli- 廣東省鄰近香港，很早就呼吸到海外的氣
dated Benevolent Associations (CCBAs). 息，成為最早移民到美國的華人。這其
Along with the increase in immigrants, 中又以廣東四邑（台山、開平、恩平及新
more and more Chinese groups have been 會）為最多數。他們群居於華埠，以家鄉
founded in more areas. According to the 的方言交談，其中以台山話最為普及，並
research that has been accomplished dur- 泛稱為「唐話」。
ing 2003 and 2006, Chinese immigrations Because Guangdong Province is near
have spread all over the world. The number Hong Kong, news from abroad was easily
of overseas Chinese immigrants has surged gathered. Consequently, residents of this
to 50,000,000. province, especially from the counties of
Taishan, Kaiping, Enping and Xinhiu, were
羅省中華會館的始創 the earliest people to leave for the United
Origination States. Upon arrival in the United States,
they lived close to each other, forming a
根據有關美國華人移民發展史略的記載， compact community - Chinatown - and
華人移民來美，始於十九世紀初葉，最
初華人來美並無任何限制，中國工人應聘
來美工作，可自由進出美國國境，這期間
大約延續有二十餘年，直到1853年，美國
政府才開始採取各種方法阻遏華人進入美
國。
安土重遷的華人開始大量移民海外乃始於
十九世紀中葉；大量移民來美也始於十九
世紀中葉。閉關鎖國的滿清政府被列強的
炮艦轟開大門，從第一次鴉片戰爭開始後
的一百年間，華夏大地一直為內憂外患所
困。同時，洪秀全在廣西沙田起義，攻陷

12 | 羅省中華會館歷史沿革 Development History