The Chinese arrived in America looking to strike it rich with The Gold Rush to send money back to their poor families, or for returning to China after a few years with newly acquired wealth. Another reason is that America served as a symbol of something higher than monetary prosperity. It represented the hope of freedom from intolerance based upon one's particular views. The most important reason, however, was that the Chinese immigration was in economic hardship due to the growing British dominance over China after Britain defeated China in the Opium War of 1839-1842. So, these are three reasons why the Chinese people came to the US.