The Gentlemen`s Agreement Limited the Immigration of Unskilled Workers from

The Gentlemen`s Agreement: A Historical Perspective on Immigration Policy

In the early 1900s, the United States was at a crossroads regarding its stance on immigration. While the country had long been heralded as the « land of opportunity, » there was growing concern that the influx of immigrants, particularly unskilled workers from Asia, was posing a threat to the labor market. This sentiment was particularly strong in California, where a group of politicians and business leaders found a way to limit the flow of Asian immigrants without invoking federal law.

The Gentlemen`s Agreement was an informal agreement between the United States and Japan, signed in 1907. The agreement was the result of negotiations between President Theodore Roosevelt and Japanese Ambassador Baron Kaneko Kentaro. The main purpose of the agreement was to address the growing tension between the United States and Japan over immigration policy. At the time, Japanese immigrants were arriving in large numbers in California, causing anxiety among American workers and politicians.

Under the terms of the agreement, Japan agreed to limit the emigration of unskilled workers to the United States. In exchange, the American government agreed to allow Japanese immigrants already in the United States to bring their families over and to desegregate Japanese schools in San Francisco. The agreement, which was not a formal treaty, relied heavily on the goodwill of both parties to enforce.

The Gentlemen`s Agreement had a significant impact on the immigration policy in the United States. It was one of the first instances where the government used a non-binding agreement to regulate immigration. The agreement was also significant because it marked a shift towards a more selective immigration policy, one that favored skilled workers over unskilled labor.

The Gentlemen`s Agreement remained in effect until 1924 when the United States passed the Immigration Act that established numerical quotas on immigration. The act was intended to restrict immigration from southern and eastern Europe, but it also had the effect of limiting the number of immigrants from Asia.

In conclusion, the Gentlemen`s Agreement was a significant moment in the history of immigration policy in the United States. While it was an informal agreement, it set the stage for the government to use non-binding agreements to regulate immigration. The agreement also highlighted the growing concern over unskilled labor and marked a shift towards a more selective immigration policy.