Final answer:
The principal strategy for Chinese immigrants to challenge the Chinese Exclusion Act was filing lawsuits in American courts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principal strategy for Chinese immigrants to challenge the Chinese Exclusion Act was filing lawsuits in American courts. By using the legal system, Chinese immigrants sought to challenge the constitutionality and discriminatory nature of the act.
One notable example is the case of United States v. Wong Kim Ark in 1898. Wong Kim Ark, born in the United States to Chinese immigrant parents, argued that he was a U.S. citizen by birthright and therefore not subject to the Chinese Exclusion Act. The case ultimately reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Wong and affirmed the birthright citizenship principle.
This strategy of legal challenges was successful in some cases, helping to bring attention to the unjust nature of the Chinese Exclusion Act and pave the way for its eventual repeal in 1943.
Learn more about Chinese immigrants challenging the Chinese Exclusion Act