The Unbreakable Code

A major historical thread woven into The Unbreakable Code is the California Gold Rush, specifically the often overlooked contributions and struggles of Chinese immigrants during that time. The Gold Rush began in 1848, just as many Chinese citizens were seeking opportunities abroad due to severe hardship at home. High taxes following the Opium Wars, political instability, and repeated crop failures created economic distress across Southern China, prompting many workers to leave in search of better prospects. When word of gold in California reached China, thousands made the journey across the Pacific.

By 1852, over 20,000 Chinese immigrants had arrived in California in a single year. In the region known as the “Southern Mines,” they made up roughly one-fifth of the population. Most came with the hope of earning money to send home or start new lives, but they were met with widespread discrimination. That same year, California imposed a Foreign Miners Tax aimed primarily at Chinese miners, requiring them to pay fees simply to work. This legalized prejudice fueled violence, theft, and systemic exclusion. Chinese immigrants were often denied the right to testify in court or defend themselves against mistreatment, and their presence was regularly resented by white miners who viewed them as competition.