Finally repealed by the Magnuson Act of 1943 (which also
established quotas for Chinese immigrants and made them eligible
for citizenship), the Exclusion Act and the events that
precipitated it reflect one facet of American life that is often
overlooked in an attempt to understand the nation in the midst
of industrialization. This web site is designed to shed light on
otherwise ignored elements of Chinese life in Nineteenth Century
America, including: reasons for emigration to California
(California Dreaming), myths surrounding the indentured servant
(i.e. "coolie") after the Civil War (Coolie Fiction),
organizations designed to assist Chinese laborers in California
(Helping Hands), tensions between white and Chinese workers
(Labor Pains), political posturing that allowed the Exclusion
Act to become law (Racial Politics), and a collection of
articles and suggested sources for further study (Read All About
Last Modified: 12/20/98 Comments or questions? E-mail us.