In the 1870s, anti-Chinese sentiment surged on the U.S. West Coast as Chinese immigrants sought opportunities in a rapidly industrializing nation. This animosity culminated in 1875 when the U.S. Congress passed the Page Act, the first federal law to restrict immigration on the basis of race and nationality. The Act specifically barred Chinese women from entering the country, under the pretext of preventing “undesirable” elements such as forced laborers and prostitutes. However, its true intent was to hinder the growth of Chinese communities by limiting family formation.
The Page Act set a troubling precedent for future exclusionary laws, marking the beginning of institutionalized discrimination against Asian immigrants. It not only reflected the xenophobic attitudes of the time but also entrenched racial biases within the legal framework of the United States.
The repercussions of the Page Act were profound, severing families and impeding the cultural and social integration of Chinese immigrants. It paved the way for the more expansive Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which halted Chinese immigration entirely for decades.
Understanding this history is crucial as it sheds light on the roots of systemic racism and highlights the importance of addressing and rectifying the injustices faced by Asian communities in the past and present.
Reference(s):
The Race Gap in the U.S.: Anti-Asian sentiment first codified in 1875
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