Which act established a ten-year ban on Chinese immigration, with exceptions for students, diplomats, skilled laborers, tourists, or wealthy individuals?

• A. Second Industrial Revolution
• B. Chinese Exclusion Act
• C. Gentleman's Agreement
• D. Quota System

Answer: (B)

This item tests understanding of early U.S. immigration policy that singled out a specific group and restricted entry based on nationality and labor role. The act imposed a ten-year ban on Chinese immigration, while allowing certain classes to enter—students, diplomats, skilled workers, tourists, and other protected categories like merchants. This reflected widespread anti-Chinese sentiment on the West Coast in the late 1800s, driven by economic competition and racial prejudice. It was the first major federal restriction on immigration and set a precedent for continued exclusion, later expanded by subsequent laws such as the Geary Act. Because it specifically targeted Chinese entrants but carved out defined exceptions for non-laborers, it best fits the description of the Chinese Exclusion Act.