What did the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 specifically target?

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 specifically targeted Chinese immigration to America. It was the first significant law implemented to prevent a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the United States. The Act was a response to rising anti-Chinese sentiment and economic fears during that period, particularly in the western states where many Chinese immigrants had settled and worked, especially in railroads and mining.

This legislation did not broadly affect all Asian immigrants or immigration from Europe but focused solely on individuals from China. As such, it highlighted the racial and economic prejudices of the time, institutionalizing discriminatory practices against a particular nationality while not applying the same restrictions to others. Over time, the Act was extended and modified, further entrenching the barriers to Chinese immigration until it was finally repealed in 1943.