Final answer:
The U.S. citizens and government implemented restrictive laws and faced significant anti-Chinese sentiment in response to Chinese laborers entering the country.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. citizens and government reacted to Chinese laborers entering the country by implementing restrictive laws and facing significant anti-Chinese sentiment. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first law in U.S. history to explicitly bar a group of immigrants based on their race or ethnicity.
This law forbade further Chinese immigration into the United States for a ten-year period and prevented Chinese already in the country from becoming citizens. The aim of these laws was to protect the employment market in the West Coast from perceived pressure caused by Chinese laborers. The Chinese Exclusion Act and other discriminatory measures added to an atmosphere of intolerance toward Asian Americans.