Through the lawmaking process, the federal government played a significant role in shaping the lives of Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century. Congressional legislation defined Chinese immigrants’ opportunities for work, restricted their ability to maintain family relationships through immigration law, and denied Chinese immigrants’ access to U.S. citizenship.
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LOC Resource
LOC Title
Chinese Immigration to the United States, 1851-1900
LOC Short Description
This exhibit traces the history of Chinese immigration leading up to the Chinese Exclusion Act.
LOC Title
Primary Documents in American History: Chinese Exclusion Act
LOC Short Description
This resource presents the history of the Chinese Exclusion Act through various primary source documents.