Final answer:
In Yick Wo v. Hopkins, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that laws targeting Chinese laundry businesses in San Francisco were discriminatory and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, setting a critical precedent for the rights of resident aliens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Yick Wo v. Hopkins had a significant impact on Chinese Americans and the principle of equal protection under the law. In this landmark 1886 case, the Court held that laws in San Francisco targeting Chinese laundry businesses were discriminatory and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The unanimous decision established that the protections of this clause apply to all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States, not just citizens, thus ensuring that resident aliens could not be deprived of equal protection under the law.
The case became an important precedent for challenging other discriminatory laws and practices, highlighting the role of the judiciary in protecting the rights of minorities against discriminatory legislation. It's noteworthy that this case occurred in the context of significant anti-Chinese sentiment and restrictive legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which limited Chinese immigration and naturalization opportunities.