Present Post 6

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was an act signed by President Chester A. Arthur that prohibited all immigration of Chinese Laborers. In fact, it was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States and had multiple different effects on Chinese Americans. It required the few non-laborers who sought entry to obtain certification from the Chinese government that they were qualified to immigrate, and Chinese people had to obtain certification if they wanted to re-enter the United States. Congress also refused State and Federal courts the right to grant citizenship to Chinese resident aliens. Overall the goal of the Chinese Exclusion Act was to restrict Asians from entering the United States.

One can determine that this act can relate to education based off of a law that was created 10 years prior. In 1872 a ban was administerd that diminshed Asian Americans’ access to public education. It is possible that 10 years later when the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed not only were Asian Americans discriminated against because of their race, but also because they were uneducated. Asians that lived in the United States did not have vital opportunities that caucasion people were granted.

Originally the Chinese Exclusion Act was meant to last for ten years, but in 1892 it was renewed with the Geary Act and it was made permanent in 1902. It was finally repealed by the Magnuson Act in 1943, and Asian Americans were finally given more rights that they did not have for years on end.

Currently, our nation is having a debate that is rather similar to the Chinese Exclusion Act, as it is debating the affair acted upon by President Trump. Trump wants to place a ban on Muslims and Mexicans in the United States. Although it has been repeatedly shot down, he is still fighting for this as he claims it will make the United States better and safer from attacks. This can compare to the Chinese Exclusion Act as they both ought to place a ban on a certain race from entering the country. Discrimination against particular races have been an ongoing problems for hundreds of years and it is my belief that it is time to bring it to an end.

Spring, Joel (2016) American Education. 6 Student Diversity (158-159).

Teaching with Documents: Using Primary Sources from the National Archives, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.