The exclusion laws had dramatic impacts on Chinese immigrants and communities.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a United States federal law prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers.
The Act significantly decreased the number of Chinese immigrants to the United States and forbade those who left to return. Any Chinese immigrants attempting to enter the United States became subjected to extreme government scrutiny and even detention.
Chinese communities broke apart as many families were forced apart. Chinese businesses were closed down and suffered loses. Because Chinese women were banned to enter the States previously ( Page Act of 1875 ,) a male dominated Chinese society was the norm. Because of the anti-Chinese feelings and anti-Chines pressure, Chinese only Chinatowns were established in urban areas as a place where the Chinese could retreat into their own cultural and social colonies.