Question

Chinese immigrants to the United States often had an even harder time finding acceptance in their new country than immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. What was one reason for this?

Answer 1

Chinese immigrants faced intense discrimination in the United States due to economic competition, cultural differences, and legislated racism, notably through the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Step-by-step explanation:

One reason Chinese immigrants often had a harder time finding acceptance in the United States than immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe was the intense discrimination and racism they faced. Factors such as economic competition with White Americans, cultural differences, and blatant racism contributed to this. Laborers from China were especially targeted on the West Coast with discriminatory policies, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred Chinese immigration and prevented Chinese immigrants from obtaining U.S. citizenship. This hostility toward Chinese immigrants unified various groups in American society against them and culminated in legislation that explicitly excluded a specific ethnic group based on race.