History of Triads in San Francisco - Chinatown

Chinatown, a place where tourist come from all overIt all started when Tongs started to form in
to world. One of the most popular spots in SanChinatown. A Tong is the term used for a type of
Francisco. People walk around unaware of the historysecret society found among Chinese American
and past events that took place on the streets theyimmigrants. Tongs started forming during the 1850's
walk in. You might even have eaten at the Imperialduring the California Gold Rush when many Chinese
Palace restaurant not knowing it used to be a placeimmigrants started flocking to the city they called
where a massacre took place taking the lives of 5"Gold Mountain." They went to California thinking they
innocent civilians. All this is very common in thewere going to be able to make a fortune but many
daytime, but during the night, it's a completelyChinese found themselves unwelcome.
different scene.Some were being robbed, and some were being
If you ever go to Chinatown during the daytime, youtaken advantaged of by the early settlers such as
most likely see a lot of old Chinese people goingthe Irish or Italians. They felt like they couldn't go to
grocery shopping or tourists looking around, but by 7the local law enforcement because a lot of the police
pm or so, the stores are closed and the streets arewere of Irish descent. The Chinese needed some
nearly deserted. The reason for this is that at night,sort of protection, the kind they had in their
the street gangs of Chinatown start to get active.homeland, which led to the forming of Tongs. Tongs
There is a lot of history in San Francisco's Chinatownwere created for mutual support and protection,
that not too many people know about. Chinatownespecially from groups hostile towards the Chinese
wasn't the safe place everyone thought it was.immigration.