U.S. Immigration and Discrimination Post-WWII

This act ended the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, allowing Chinese immigration to the U.S. again and granting citizenship to Chinese residents. However, it limited immigration to 105 people per year, highlighting ongoing discrimination.

This case involved a Chinese-American family being denied entry into a predominantly white neighborhood in San Francisco due to racial prejudice. The decision was made through a community vote.

The practice of keeping certain neighborhoods exclusively for white residents through informal or legal means, preventing minorities from living there.

Formal agreements written into property deeds that prohibited the sale or rental of the property to minorities. While mostly outlawed later, they played a big role in segregation.

The attitude or belief that one's own race is superior to other races, leading to discrimination and prejudice.

Actions, policies, or procedures that unfairly treat people based on their race or ethnicity.

The desire to maintain a dominant position over other racial groups, often through exclusionary practices or policies.

The state of being equal in rights, opportunities, and treatment, regardless of race or ethnicity.

A coalition of students of various racial backgrounds (Asian, Black, Latino, Native American) who fought, in the late 1960s, for the establishment of ethnic studies programs at universities like San Francisco State and UC Berkeley.

A law passed in 1968 aiming to end housing discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, or family status.

The act of stopping or preventing someone from entering or living in a particular place, especially based on their race or ethnicity.

A law that changed U.S. immigration rules in 1965, moving away from European preference and opening doors for immigrants worldwide based on family connections and job skills.

A quota system implemented in 1924 that favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, limiting or excluding those from Asia, Africa, and parts of Southern and Eastern Europe.

A stereotype that often associates Asian Americans with positive traits like high achievement and success, sometimes used to downplay systemic racism.

An adoption organization founded in 1956 by the Holts to help American families adopt children from South Korea, especially biracial children left orphaned after the Korean War.

A law that allowed foreign wives and children of American soldiers to move to the United States more easily, making it easier for families to be reunited after World War II.

A period of time in U.S. history, starting in the 1950s and lasting through much of the 1960s, marked by significant social change and the fight for civil rights for Black Americans.

A war fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953. This event left many Korean children orphaned.

An event that sparked a global competition for influence between the United States and the Soviet Union in the latter half of the 20th century.

The act of giving someone a new home and family.

A sense of belonging to a specific culture, including traditions, values, language, and customs.

A situation where opportunities and resources are unevenly distributed or limited, leading to inequality.

A U.S. program during the Red Scare (1956-1965) that encouraged illegal Chinese immigrants to confess their status, promising no punishment but often resulting in deportation, legal trouble, or increased surveillance. It arose from American fears about communism and targeted Chinese immigrants due to the suspicion surrounding their origin.

A law passed in 1946 that allowed people from India and the Philippines to become U.S. citizens for the first time, marking a significant step towards reducing racial barriers in immigration policies.

A U.S. government program (1975-1990) designed to help Vietnamese refugees leave their country safely and resettle in other nations. It involved a formal process to apply for departure, reducing the number of refugees risking dangerous sea journeys.

The fear of communism spreading in the U.S., characterized by suspicion and persecution of suspected communists, particularly in the 1950s.

A U.S. law passed in 1882 that prohibited Chinese immigration and naturalization, reflecting the prevailing racism and discrimination against Chinese immigrants.

An act passed in 1924 that greatly restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Asia, due to concerns about racial purity and national identity.

The desire to keep a dominant position by excluding or suppressing other racial groups, often through discriminatory practices or policies.

The War Brides Act allowed foreign wives and children of U.S. soldiers to immigrate to the United States without needing to follow immigration quotas. This helped soldiers reunite with their families after wars like World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The act also became a stepping stone towards more family-focused and less restrictive immigration policies in the future.

Non-Quota Preference Categories were special rules in U.S. immigration law that allowed certain people to immigrate without being restricted by normal quotas. This helped family members of U.S. citizens, refugees escaping war or persecution, and skilled workers to enter the country without being limited by nationality restrictions.

Vincent Chin was a Chinese-American man who was killed in 1982 by two white men who blamed Asians for job losses in the auto industry. While they admitted to the crime, they only received probation and a small fine, highlighting the lack of justice experienced by Asian Americans. This incident helped spark a stronger Asian American civil rights movement.

The Red Guard Party was a group of young Asian American activists in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 1960s. Inspired by the Black Panther Party, they fought against racism, police brutality, and poor living conditions in their community. Their activism showed how Asian Americans could stand up for their rights and improve their neighborhoods.

The McCarran-Walter Act (1952) made some changes to U.S. immigration laws, ending the complete ban on Asian immigration but still retaining many discriminatory practices. This act represented a step towards less restrictive immigration policies, but it still showed that racial bias lingered in the system.

Before 1965, U.S. immigration laws had quotas that favored Northern and Western Europeans while restricting immigration from Asia, Africa, and Southern/Eastern Europe. This system showed a clear preference for people from certain parts of the world.

The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 removed discriminatory quotas based on nationality and shifted the focus to family reunification and skills needed in the U.S. This marked a major step towards more equal and flexible immigration laws.

During the Cold War, the U.S. saw a growing importance in helping people fleeing war or persecution, which was reflected in immigration policies. This shift showed a wider view of the world and a greater desire to provide sanctuary for those in need.

The Non-Quota Preference Categories initially focused on keeping families together, allowing spouses, children, and parents to move to the U.S. without being subject to quotas. This emphasis on family unity became a cornerstone of later immigration reforms.

The War Brides Act helped to reduce racial discrimination in immigration policies, which was particularly evident when it was expanded to include Asian wives after the Korean and Vietnam wars. While some bias still existed, it showed how the focus on family reunification challenged racial barriers.

The Red Guard Party, inspired by the Black Panther Party, focused on issues like poverty, overcrowded housing, and discrimination in Chinatown. They aimed to improve the lives of working-class Asian Americans and provided services like food distribution and educational support.

The Red Guard Party’s work alongside groups like the Black Panther Party showed how communities can unite to achieve shared goals like better housing and an end to police violence. This demonstrated the strength of coalition building and the power of collective action.

The Red Guard Party showed how Asian Americans were actively involved in the fight for equal rights and social justice in the U.S. They became an example of how communities could take action to improve their lives and be part of larger social movements.

Vincent Chin’s murder was a reminder of the serious and often ignored problem of racism against Asians in the U.S. It exposed the dangers of widespread stereotypes and economic anxieties fueling violence against Asian Americans.

The murder of Vincent Chin highlighted the need for greater awareness of hate crimes and the importance of fighting for racial justice. The incident inspired Asian Americans to unite and demand fairness in the justice system.

This law, passed in 1952, aimed to address racist immigration laws and end the Chinese Exclusion Act. It allowed Asian immigrants to apply for citizenship, but it still had quotas favoring Europeans and limiting Asian immigration.

The I-Hotel was a San Francisco building where many elderly Filipino and Chinese immigrants lived, facing eviction by developers who wanted to build expensive apartments. They fought for 10 years, but the court ruled in favour of the developers.

This committee was formed by Japanese Americans in Seattle in the 1970s. They worked to get an apology and compensation from the U.S. government for the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. They collected stories and fought for justice.

This program, established in 1979, aimed to help Vietnamese people leave Vietnam safely and legally after the Vietnam War. It aimed to stop dangerous sea escapes known as 'boat people' and helped reunite families.

This refers to the process of wealthy developers pushing out low-income and minority communities by redeveloping neighborhoods into expensive ones.

This refers to the process of seeking financial compensation and formal apologies from a government for past injustices committed against a community.

This act, passed in 1988, formally apologized for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and provided each survivor with $20,000.

This refers to people who leave their home country to seek refuge in another country, often due to war, persecution, or natural disasters.

This refers to the practice of setting legal limits on the number of people who can immigrate from each country to a specific country.

People who are forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in a different country due to war, persecution, or other threats to their safety.