Immigration laws in 1900
In 1900, the immigration laws of different countries varied greatly. Here are some examples of immigration laws in a few countries during this era:
United States:
- The Immigration Act of 1891 (also known as the Immigration Act of 1903) established federal regulation of immigration for the first time. It required immigrants to pay a head tax upon entry.
- The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited the entry of Chinese laborers, was still in effect. It was extended indefinitely with the Geary Act of 1892.
- The General Immigration Act of 1903 expanded the list of inadmissible persons to include anarchists, those with epilepsy or contagious diseases, polygamists, and those engaged in prostitution.
Australia:
- The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, commonly known as the White Australia Policy, aimed to restrict non-European immigration to Australia. It introduced a dictation test in which non-European immigrants had to write out fifty words dictated to them in any European language chosen by the immigration officer.
- The legislation aimed to create a homogeneous, racially exclusive society by limiting immigration primarily to white Europeans.
Canada:
- The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 and the Chinese Immigration Act of 1904 imposed a head tax on Chinese immigrants to Canada.
- The numerous Chinese Immigration Acts passed between 1885 and 1923 aimed to limit Chinese immigration by implementing various restrictions and outright bans.
United Kingdom:
- Immigration into the United Kingdom was relatively unrestricted at the time, with no specific legislation targeting immigrants from specific countries.
These are just a few examples of immigration laws during the early 1900s. It is important to note that immigration laws were continually evolving and varied significantly across different countries.