Final answer:
Chinese immigrants faced harsh discrimination and legal exclusions in the United States, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which specifically targeted them for their race and ethnicity, unlike their white counterparts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chinese immigrants in the United States faced significant discrimination and were treated differently than their white counterparts in many ways. Prohibited from naturalizing as U.S. citizens since 1790, Chinese immigrants were subject to violence, discriminatory laws, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and social injustices, including a special tax for miners during the Gold Rush and forced relocations into segregated areas. Anti-Chinese sentiment, driven by economic fears and racial prejudices, led to the formation of anti-coolie clubs and other organized efforts to curtail the rights and opportunities of Chinese individuals. Whereas white immigrants faced challenges, they generally did not experience the same level of institutionalized discrimination, as demonstrated by legal exclusions specifically targeting Chinese people.
Over time, discrimination against Chinese immigrants became codified in state constitutions and federal laws, including the 1879 California constitution that deprived naturalized Chinese citizens of the right to vote or hold state employment. Intense lobbying efforts by groups like the California Working Men's Party sought to paint Chinese immigrants as a burden on society and an economic threat, leading to further restrictions on immigration and rights. These restrictions culminated in the Chinese Exclusion Act, which significantly reduced the scope of Chinese immigration and reinforced the inequalities between Chinese and white immigrants