Empire, Colonialism, and Asian Immigration is one of the key themes for Erika Lee. Between the 16th and 20th centuries, European, American, and Japanese imperialism shaped Asian immigration to the Americas. It contributed to the socioeconomic conditions for immigration in Asia, impacted labor conditions in the Americas, and even had an effect on the way the Asian immigrants were treated in their new homes.

First, the author describes the Spanish Empire, which used the Philippines as a hub in its Transpacific slave trade. Asians from diverse places, such as present-day India and Myanmar, represented a smaller group compared to Africans. However, they were used in the same way in the Spanish Empire in the Americas. The journeys overseas were difficult and had a high death toll from diseases. The labor was backbreaking. Overall, the Spanish Empire relied on its colonial possessions to transport human capital where it was necessary for labor.

Second, the British Empire operated in a similar way by transporting laborers from one part of its vast landmass to another, especially to the Caribbean. However, since the gradual abolition of slavery in the first third of the 19th century, it relied on the indentured labor of “coolies” (See: Index of Terms) who were free in name only.