The Exclusion Act

The Exclusion Act, specifically the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, was a United States federal law that prohibited Chinese immigrants from entering the country and restricted those already here from becoming citizens. It was the first major law aimed at limiting immigration based on ethnicity and lasted for over 60 years. The law was driven by economic fears and racial prejudice, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment. It marked a significant and discriminatory chapter in U.S. immigration policy, ultimately being repealed in 1943.