American Sentiment
Hostile attitudes by whites toward the Chinese grew because Chinese laborers accepted lower wages, which would undercut union activities. Racist sentiment also developed because of the distinctly different culture that Asian immigrants brought to the U.S. In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which kept Chinese people in the country from becoming citizens and made it illegal for any more Chinese people to come to the country. The law was in effect for ten years and renewed again in 1892. The Chinese population declined drastically after the act’s passage.
The large numbers of new immigrants to Eastern factory towns and port cities created communities of people with the same culture and same language. Many immigrants tried to maintain their traditional ways, such as religion and diet. This provoked fear in many Americans who were native-born. In response to this sentiment, Congress repealed the Contract Labor Act in 1885. Employers were no longer able to recruit foreign workers by paying their way to America.