The act was motivated by a number of factors, including racism, economic competition, and political pressure.
Racism: Many white Americans at the time viewed Chinese immigrants as inferior and as a threat to their own way of life. Chinese laborers were often seen as taking jobs away from white workers, and they were blamed for a variety of social problems, such as crime and prostitution.
Economic competition: Chinese laborers were often willing to work for lower wages than white workers, which made them a threat to the economic security of white workers. In addition, many white Americans believed that Chinese immigrants were taking advantage of the country's natural resources, such as gold and timber.
Political pressure: The Chinese Exclusion Act was also passed in response to political pressure from white labor unions and political organizations. These groups argued that the influx of Chinese immigrants was a threat to the American way of life, and they demanded that the government take action to restrict Chinese immigration.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was a significant piece of legislation that had a profound impact on Chinese immigrants and on the history of the United States. The act remained in effect for over 60 years, until it was finally repealed in 1943.