Introduction to Asian American Studies: Final Zine Project (4) - Lauren Hendrickson - Kelli Kufta - Madi Earnshaw - Hayley Lee

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first legislation passed that prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country & prevented those laborers that had left the US from reentry. This act set the precedent for later restrictions against immigration of other nationalities. This placed intense restrictions on Chinese, including only allowing teachers, students, diplomats, and tourists as well as limited access to bail bonds.

Poster from the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

‘THE CHINESE MUST GO!’: THE ANTI CHINESE MOVEMENT By: Erika Lee Group 6: Lauren Hendrickson, Kelli Kufta, Hayley Lee & Madi Earnshaw America was known as a country of immigrants or as a descendant of immigrants. Lee explains the journey of the Chinese migrating to the U.S. and all the obstacles they had to overcome. Chinese were questioned because the U.S. didn’t know if they should be welcomed or expelled as they were seen as a threat to American society. Chinese immigrants were treated as a source of cheap, available labor instead of actual human beings. Why Does it Matter? The restrictive laws against immigrants that were first introduced in America were then spread to Canada and Mexico as well. Canadian head tax for Chinese immigrants was implemented & backfired, this boosted demand for cheap labor. Many different political cartoons in North America portrayed Chinese as filthy, greedy animals which severely affected their social perception. Many of these similar scenarios are happening today.