What did the "Gentlemen's Agreement" between Japan and the United States aim to achieve?

The "Gentlemen's Agreement" aimed to limit Japanese immigration to the United States. Established in 1907-1908, this informal agreement was reached as a response to growing anti-Japanese sentiment in the U.S. that surfaced particularly on the West Coast. Under the terms of this agreement, Japan agreed to prevent further emigration of laborers to the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. agreeing to treat Japanese immigrants already living in America with respect and as part of the country’s social fabric, protecting them from discrimination and segregation.

This arrangement was significant because it highlighted the broader context of immigration policies during that era, which was characterized by racial and national biases. The U.S. was trying to control the influx of immigrants while still maintaining relations with Japan, a rising power at the time. While the agreement did not create any formal legal barriers to immigration, it effectively curtailed the number of Japanese immigrants arriving in the U.S., signifying a compromise between two nations amid a backdrop of tension and racial prejudice.