Nativism and the Chinese Exclusion Act

Definition: policy of protecting native born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants

common political belief starting in the years mid 1800's

many people were nativist towards the Irish and other Catholic groups because they often voted in large blocks (together) and the Pope was seen as a political figure

tried to pass laws to make it harder for immigrants to become a US Citizen

try to reduce the number of people who could come to the USA

riots sometimes took place between immigrant Irish Catholics and nativists

1850 - Foreign Miners had to pay an extra tax in California

1854 - People v. Hall - Chinese people could not testify against white people

1871 - A white mob tortured and hanged 17 Chinese people in San Francisco

1877 - White mob killed 4 Chinese people and damaged property

1880 - Anti-miscegenation law - Chinese and whites could not marry

1882 - Chinese Exclusion Act passed