Question

Which factor contributed most to the passage of the chinese exclusion act of 1882?

Answer 1

Scholars have theorized about the social factors that led to the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Among these factors was the increased number of Chinese citizens that immigrated to California following the Gold Rush of 1949 to participate in the mining industry and railroad construction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Economic concerns over job competition on the West Coast significantly contributed to the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which manifested prevalent anti-Chinese sentiment and fostered an atmosphere of racial intolerance that affected various minority groups. therefore, option A is correct

Step-by-step explanation:

The factor that contributed most to the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was A) Economic concerns and competition for jobs, particularly on the West Coast. This legislation was primarily aimed at calming the fears of those who believed that Chinese migrants were exerting excessive pressure on the employment market in those areas. The act was a manifestation of the prevalent anti-Chinese sentiment, which arose from the concern that Chinese workers, willing to work for lower wages, were displacing American workers, contributing to lower wages and higher unemployment for them.

Moreover, the law contributed to an atmosphere of intolerance toward Asian Americans, reflecting broader racial prejudice and xenophobia. It also provided legal sanction for such discrimination, which had ramifications for not just Chinese Americans but other Asian and minority groups in the United States as well. The discriminatory practices were part of a pattern of legislative actions targeting Asian immigrants, including subsequent laws that extended the exclusion and even prevented Asian people from owning land or becoming naturalized U.S. citizens.