The Chinese Exclusion Act was the act of prohibiting any other Chinese from immigrating to the United States. Only people who brought advantages to them (doctors, etc) could immigrate. The Americans began to see the Chinese as rivals in work as they kept working alongside the Chinese. They felt threatened that maybe one day the United States would be run by the Chinese instead of the Americans. Even though China and America had came to an agreement with the Burlingame Treaty, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
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- Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882- “An act to execute certain treaty stipulations relating to Chinese.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, 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, . . . 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.” This is talking about the Chinese now being banned from immigrating to the U.S.
- “SEC. 2. That the master of any vessel who shall knowingly bring within the United States on such vessel, and land or permit to be landed, any Chinese laborer, from any foreign port or place, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars for each and every such Chinese laborer so brought, and may be also imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year.” This is saying that if any White owner were to give any land to a Chinese laborer, they would be guilty and put into a fine and even imprisoned.
- “SEC. 6. That in order to the faithful execution of articles one and two of the treaty in this act before mentioned, every Chinese person other than a laborer who may be entitled by said treaty and this act to come within the United States, and who shall be about to come to the United States, shall be identified as so entitled by the Chinese Government in each case, such identity to be evidenced by a certificate issued under the authority of said government, which certificate shall be in the English language or (if not in the English language) accompanied by a translation into English, stating such right to come, and which certificate shall state the name, title, or official rank, if any, the age, height, and all physical peculiarities former and present occupation or profession and place of residence in China of the person to whom the certificate is issued and that such person is entitled conformably to the treaty in this act mentioned to come within the Untied States. . . .” This is saying that the Chinese need to have a certificate around them approved by the Chinese government, and the certificate has to be written in English. The certificate needs the person’s physical traits listed on there as well as their occupation.
- “SEC. 12. That no Chinese person shall be permitted to enter the United States by land without producing to the proper office of customs the certificate in this act required of Chinese persons seeking to land from a vessel. Any any Chinese person found unlawfully within the United States shall be caused to be removed therefrom to the country from whence he came, by direction of the President of the United States, and at the cost of the United States, after being brought before some justice, judge, or commissioner of a court of the United States and found to be one not lawfully entitled to be or remain in the United States.” This is saying that no Chinese person can come into the United States without the proper office certifications. If any Chinese person is found in the United States without the requirements, they will be brought to the U.S. court and forced to return to their own country.
- “SEC. 14. That hereafter no State court or court of the United States shall admit Chinese to citizenship; and all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.” This is saying that no state court or any court in the United States can admit a Chinese to American citizenship.
- “SEC. 15. That the words "Chinese laborers," whenever used in this act, shall be construed to mean both skilled and unskilled laborers and Chinese employed in mining.”