The “Gentlemen’s The “Gentlemen’s Agreement”Agreement”

Chinese immigrationChinese immigration

Itinerant workersItinerant workers The “yellow peril”The “yellow peril” Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Japanese immigration--Japanese immigration--reasonsreasons

Meiji Era (1868-1912)Meiji Era (1868-1912) politicalpolitical economic economic social changessocial changes

The passageThe passage

Labor contractorsLabor contractors SteamersSteamers

WorkWork

Groups (lower wage)Groups (lower wage) Mining, agriculture, railroadsMining, agriculture, railroads

The “yellow peril”The “yellow peril”

Social attitudes toward Asians, esp. on Social attitudes toward Asians, esp. on the West Coast.the West Coast.

Driving down wages, buying “prime” land, Driving down wages, buying “prime” land, populatingpopulating

Calls to stop immigrationCalls to stop immigration

The Sons of the Golden West, the Anti-The Sons of the Golden West, the Anti-Asiatic League, American LegionAsiatic League, American Legion

Hostility toward “picture brides” and calls Hostility toward “picture brides” and calls to ban Japanese, cir. 1905. to ban Japanese, cir. 1905.

Japan in the worldJapan in the world

IndustrializationIndustrialization Sino-Japanese War 1895Sino-Japanese War 1895 Russo-Japanese War 1905Russo-Japanese War 1905

Teddy RooseveltTeddy Roosevelt

Fear of armed conflictFear of armed conflict

(Former assistant Secretary of Navy)(Former assistant Secretary of Navy) Economic incentivesEconomic incentives

(“Open Door” Policy in China)(“Open Door” Policy in China) Personal affinityPersonal affinity

Annoyed with California Annoyed with California

They cannot behave worse than the State of California, They cannot behave worse than the State of California, through its Legislature, is now behaving toward the through its Legislature, is now behaving toward the Japanese . . . . and at the same time . . . . they expect to be Japanese . . . . and at the same time . . . . they expect to be given advantages in Oriental markets; and with besotted folly given advantages in Oriental markets; and with besotted folly are indifferent to building up the navy while provoking this are indifferent to building up the navy while provoking this formidable new power—a power jealous, sensitive and formidable new power—a power jealous, sensitive and warlike, and which if irritated could at once take both the warlike, and which if irritated could at once take both the Philippines and Hawaii from us if she obtained the upper Philippines and Hawaii from us if she obtained the upper hand on the seas. Most certainly the Japanese soldiers and hand on the seas. Most certainly the Japanese soldiers and sailors have shown themselves to be terrible foes. There sailors have shown themselves to be terrible foes. There can be none more dangerous in all the world. But our own can be none more dangerous in all the world. But our own navy is respectable in numbers and more than respectable in navy is respectable in numbers and more than respectable in the efficiency of its units. If we act thus we need not fear the the efficiency of its units. If we act thus we need not fear the Japanese . . . . In any event we can hold our own in the Japanese . . . . In any event we can hold our own in the future….only if we occupy the position of the just man future….only if we occupy the position of the just man armed… armed…

Terms of the agreementTerms of the agreement

Japan to prevent laborers from leaving.Japan to prevent laborers from leaving. Two types of visasTwo types of visas HawaiiHawaii

Execution of GAExecution of GA

Japanese Association of AmericaJapanese Association of America Administrative tasksAdministrative tasks Lifestyle campaignsLifestyle campaigns

Discriminatory legislationDiscriminatory legislation

Alien Land Law, 1913Alien Land Law, 1913 ““Picture bride” ban, 1920Picture bride” ban, 1920 Perception of the G.A. not workingPerception of the G.A. not working

Exclusion Act of 1924Exclusion Act of 1924