Forbidden Citizens: Chinese Exclusion and the U.S. Congress: A Legislative History

By Martin B. Gold

Book Overview

A whole class of people, forbidden from ever becoming citizens . . . forbidden from even entering the country-their rights torn up and trampled on, left with no political redress. This was the United States of America from 1882 through 1943-if you had the misfortune to be Chinese. The United States Congress banned all Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens from 1882 through 1943, and stopped most Chinese from even entering the country starting in 1882. Forbidden Citizens recounts this long and shameful legislative history. Congress passed restrictive legislation between 1879 and 1904. The most notorious was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, described as "one of the most vulgar forms of barbarism," by Rep. John Kasson (R-IA) in 1882. These laws were targeted not only at immigration, they banned citizenship, even for legal immigrants who had arrived before the gate was closed in 1882. Barred from becoming voters, the Chinese had no political recourse against repeated discrimination. Because their appearance and lifestyle were so different, it was easy to tyrannize the Chinese. Insisting that the Chinese could not assimilate into American culture, lawmakers actively blocked them from doing so. Democrats and Republicans alike found the Chinese easy prey. For the first time, this book assembles the complete legislative history of Congress's Chinese exclusion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1587332574
• ISBN13: 9781587332579
• Release Date: July 2012
• Publisher: TheCapitol.Net
• Length: 616 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.7" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Discrimination based on race

Mr Gold did a good job in documenting how under a democratic system legalized bias and discrimination without merits. This book showed those brave one who opposed the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Burlingame, a retired American consul headed up the Chinese Legation and negotiated a fair and equal treaty with Seward. He died on the job in Moscow and Chinese government showed respect with silver and honor. However, this endeavor was voided with the Chinese Exclusion Act. The Burlingame Treaty was copied in this book and a bronze bust from China was dedicated couple years ago. Trump came to White House and made trade war, cold war, Hi tech. Chinese in America contributed by building the Trans-continental Railroad and made America Great. This book reminds the white man supremacy then and now! Mr Gold helped in getting Congress to make apology proclamation for Chinese Exclusion Act. But Mr Trump resurrect the ghost against Chinese Americans.