Chinese Exclusion Act

The Chinese Exclusion Act, enacted in 1882, was a U.S. law that prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country. It was the first significant law to restrict immigration based on nationality and was driven by widespread anti-Chinese sentiment among American workers who feared job competition. The act reflected broader racial prejudices and was aimed at preserving "American" culture. It was initially meant to last ten years but was extended multiple times and eventually became permanent until its repeal in 1943, highlighting a dark period of discrimination in American immigration policy.