Limiting Immigration

Chinese Exclusion Act & White Australia Policy

American Reform:

The Chinese Exclusion Acts.

1st significant wave of Chinese immigration occurred

during the California Gold Rush of 1849. This led to the use of Chinese laborers for various

labor projects. (Ex: construction of Transcontinental Railroad)

As competition increased over decreasing amounts of gold, the anti-Chinese mentality continued to grow. Most Chinese were driven from the mines & settled in

Chinese communities in the cities (Ex: San Francisco). Here, the Chinese obtained low-wage jobs as unskilled

laborers doing restaurant & laundry work.

Origins of Anti-Chinese Sentiment

Beginning in 1882, the law was passed to suspend

Chinese immigration. Originally meant to be temporary (10 yrs), it wasn’t

repealed until 1943. The law banned skilled & unskilled Chinese laborers. The law prevented Chinese immigrants from becoming

citizens. Many could immigrate, but with permission from China

that they were qualified—which was difficult to prove.

Chinese Exclusion Act

British Reform:

The White Australia Policy

Discovery of gold in 1851 led to a sudden increase in

immigration—particularly among the Chinese. Roughly 50,000 Chinese came, which led to protests &

eventually, rioting among the whites in Australia. The growth of the sugar industry led to the need of

workers able to tolerate the tropical climate needed to work the plantations. This led to the rise in Pacific Islander migrant workers. Again, protests & rioting ensued. Whites argued the new migrants took jobs from white,

union workers & worked for sub-standard wages.

Origins of Anti-Immigration Sentiment

The White Australia Policy:

Passed in 1901, the policy limited the amount of various groups of immigrants from entering Australia.

The law required that all immigrants pass a dictation test before admittance. Often the test was dictated to the immigrants in a

European language (though not necessarily in English), which was arbitrarily chosen by the immigration officer.

British migrants were the exclusion to the policy and were granted immediate admittance into Australia.