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Legislation
- 1882 - The Chinese Exclusion Act is signed into law, prohibiting the immigration of Chinese laborers for ten (10) years.
- This was extended twice
- In 1892 for 10 years under the Geary Act, then made permanent in 1902
- The Act was repealed in 1943, when the United States and China were allies during World War II.
- 1978 - Public Law 95-419 is approved, creating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, from May 4 1979 - May 11, 1979.
- 1992 - Public Law 102-450 is approved by the 102nd Congress.
- This outlines several findings:
- on May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants came to the United States
- on May 10, 1869 (Golden Spike Day), the first trans-continental railroad in the United States was completed with significant contributions from Chinese pioneers
- (many Chinese laborers worked on the railroad, with many being unpaid or underpaid)
- in 1979, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week was created
- in 1990, '91, and '92, Congress and the President proclaimed May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
- nearly 8,000,000 people in the United States can trace their roots back to Asia and the islands of the Pacific
- Asian and Pacific Americans have contributed significantly to the development of the arts, sciences, government, military, commerce, and education in the United States
Education
- Chronicling America - a section of the Library of Congress detailing facets of history in America, including "100 Years Ago Today".
- Is searchable and contains a bevy of articles on Asian American history, including contemporary documents referencing the Chinese Exclusion Act.
- Photos, Print, Drawing Database - a Library of Congress database that is searchable. Contains images of Asian American/Pacific Islander history, including anti-Asian rhetoric and pro-Asian imagery.
Public Law 102-450 (1992)
