Introduction
The American Chinese Exclusion Act was signed in 1882; according to it, Chinese immigrants were prohibited from entering the territory of the United States for work and living. Despite the time, these measures caused by economic and cultural confrontation have an impact on modern society as well. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the American Chinese Exclusion Act through the lenses of history, humanities, natural and applied sciences, and social sciences.
Main body
The restriction of Asian immigration was originated from increased competition between native-born Americans and Chinese immigrants. Between 1850 and 1860, approximately 50.000 Chinese entered the United States for jobs in railroad and mining industries; over several decades, the Chinese population was significantly extending (Young, 2017). The first reason for native resentment was derived from the belief that Chinese immigrants were an “unassimilable, even subversive group” due to differences in physical characteristics, traditional appearance, language, and preserved native culture (Young, 2017, p. 220). Economic confrontation played a significant role as well since immigrants were prepared to serve in various capacities for lower compensation in contrast with native workers. Labor issues and nativist resentment resulted in the development of political campaigns against Chinese residents. The Americans’ demands of immigration restriction and limitation of rights for the Chinese led to the Chinese Exclusion Act, signed in 1882 (Young, 2017). It suspended immigration from China and existed until 1943 when China became the ally of the US in World War II (Howling Pixel, n.d.). Chinese laborers who stayed in America were obliged to perform eligibility certificates for legal work and living.
The Chinese Exclusion Act exerted a significant influence on the further development of the country and modern society. It can be regarded through the four general education lenses: history, humanities, natural and applied sciences, and social sciences. The reinforcement of immigration policy in America started at the end of the 19th century has a relevant connection to the lens of history. It resulted not only in the reduction of the Chinese population in the United States but in the development of the nativist movement that currently remains in its position, provoking modern restrictions against Mexicans and Muslim immigrants (Young, 2017). This concept focuses on improper convictions about immigrants’ inability to assimilate, and their potential threat to native-born Americans.
The humanities consist of sciences in which data has no objective way to be verified; they commonly include ethics, aesthetics, and art. From the position of ethics, the Chinese Exclusion Act had a devastating impact on the Chinese community, as restricting measures performed the uncovered discrimination of immigrants by their culture, ethnicity, and language. According to the Act, Chinese citizens and residents were interdicted to enter the US in case they had left the country, and their relatives could not follow them (Young, 2017). These legislative restrictions led to families’ separations, which influenced the psychological well-being of community members.
Conclusion
The connection of the Act to the lens of natural science remains unclear. In the 1900s, the plague was developing in Chinatown, San Francisco (Howling Pixel, n.d.). Although the Chinese community’s fault was not established, this accident led to immigrants’ accusations by native-born and sharpening of the policy against the Chinese. Nevertheless, the Act has a significant connection to the lenses of politics and economics as social sciences. The influence of past restrictions can be currently observed as this tendency repeats through Donald Trump’s intentions to construct the wall along the Mexican border to suspend immigration (Young, 2017). The restriction of Asian immigration led to economic tension decrease since the majority of work positions could be occupied by native citizens.
References
- Howling Pixel. (n.d.). Chinese exclusion act. Web.
- Young, J. G. (2017). Making America 1920 again? Nativism and US immigration, past and present. Journal on Migration and Human Security, 5(1), 217-235.