Transcript Chinese Exclusion Act

Chinese Exclusion Act
“Whereas, in the opinion of the Government of the United States the
coming of Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of
certain localities within the territory thereof:
Therefore, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and
after the expiration of ninety days next after the passage of this act, and
until the expiration of ten years next after the passage of this act, the
coming of Chinese laborers to the United States be, and the same is
hereby, suspended; and during such suspension it shall not be lawful
for any Chinese laborer to come, or, having so come after the expiration
of said ninety days, to remain within the United States.”
Main Idea
The United States government sought to suspend the
immigration of skilled and unskilled Chinese laborers,
as well as the Chinese who worked in mines for a span
that was intended to be ten years.
Point of View/Bias
Exclusion of only the Chinese was considered racist since
no European immigrants were included.
Inferences
 It was the first time the national government
limited entry of an ethnic working group on the
premise that it endangered the good order of
certain localities.
 It placed new requirements on Chinese who had
already entered the country. If they left the United
States, they had to obtain certifications to re-enter.
 When the exclusion act expired in 1892, Congress
extended it for 10 years in the form of the Geary
Act.