What was the main objective of the Chinese Exclusion Act?

The primary aim of the Chinese Exclusion Act, enacted in 1882, was to prevent Chinese migrants from entering the United States. This legislation marked a significant turning point in U.S. immigration policy as it was the first federal law to restrict immigration based on nationality and ethnicity. The act emerged in response to widespread anti-Chinese sentiment and economic anxieties among American workers in the western U.S., particularly in California, where competition for jobs was intense.

The Act was not about encouraging Chinese workers to return home or fostering cultural exchange. Rather, it specifically targeted the influx of Chinese immigrants, reflecting the racial biases and labor concerns prevalent at the time. Additionally, it did not establish trade agreements with China; in fact, the relationship between the U.S. and China suffered due to the discriminatory nature of the Act, fostering resentment in China towards American policies. Thus, the main objective was indeed to curtail Chinese immigration, leading to isolation and hardship for Chinese communities already present in the United States.