Final answer:
The sentiment towards Chinese laborers in the U.S. in 1882 was highly negative, leading to the Chinese Exclusion Act which banned their immigration to protect American labor. This act was part of a broader atmosphere of racial intolerance and xenophobia against Asians, contributing to discriminatory treatment including violence and exclusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1882, the sentiment towards Chinese laborers in the United States was overwhelmingly negative, culminating in the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The act represented the first legislative action taken by the U.S. government to restrict immigration specifically based on ethnicity. It banned the migration of Chinese laborers to the United States, responding to the belief that Chinese immigrants were causing pressure on the Western employment market with unfair labor competition.
Indeed, this period of American history was marked by acute racial intolerance, not only towards the Chinese but also towards other Asian communities. This discriminatory viewpoint was fueled by the notion of protecting American workers and the economy but resulted in severe exclusionary practices against Asians. By prohibiting the immigration of Chinese laborers while still allowing wealthy Chinese investors and other non-laboring immigrants, the law created a stark divide. It reflected and reinforced the prejudiced narrative that Chinese workers were unwanted imports, a view used to justify stripping them of agency and dignity.
The atmosphere of intolerance was further amplified by the harsh treatment and violence that Chinese immigrants faced, often subjected to beatings and other forms of abuse. The atmosphere of xenophobia was not only prevalent on the West Coast but had spread across the country. Political cartoons of the time, such as one from 1882, embodied this anti-Chinese sentiment, depicting Asian laborers as unwanted while European immigrants were welcomed. This discriminatory policy and public sentiment persisted for decades until its eventual repeal during World War II, reflecting a long-standing and deep-seated racial bias within American society.