Chinese Exclusion Act

After the economic spark of the Gold Rush died down, many workers on the West Coast blamed falling wages and a stagnant economy on the surge of Chinese immigrants to the United States. Signed into legislation on May 6th, 1882 by President Chester A. Arthur, the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first immigration law that restricted entry from a specific country to America. It halted the immigration of Chinese immigrants for 10 years, but the Geary Act of 1892 extended the immigration ban for a further 10 years. In 1902, Chinese immigration was made permanently illegal. This continued until 1943 with the Magnuson Act, a manifestation of America's attempts to improve relations with important Asian allies during World War II. 

The Chinese Exclusion Act had a significant impact on Asian Americans, particularly Chinese immigrants and their families. The law limited the ability of Chinese immigrants to reunite with their families, as family members were not allowed to join them in the United States. The law also led to the forced separation of many Chinese families and the isolation of many Chinese immigrants.

The Chinese Exclusion Act also had significant economic consequences for Chinese immigrants. Chinese immigrants were often relegated to low-paying and dangerous jobs due to their status as immigrants, and they had few legal protections. Many Chinese immigrants were exploited and abused, as they were afraid to speak out for fear of deportation