Legislation1882
Chinese Exclusion Act Signed
President Chester A. Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, prohibiting Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States for ten years. It was the first federal law to restrict immigration based on nationality and race.
Why It Matters
The Chinese Exclusion Act represents one of the most restrictive immigration laws in American history, raising fundamental questions about equality, nativism, and who is included in the promise of American citizenship.