- Fear of competition: White workers feared that Chinese workers were taking their jobs and driving down wages.
- Racism and xenophobia: Many white Americans held negative stereotypes about Chinese people, viewing them as inferior race.
- Protections for American jobs and resources: Some argued that the Chinese were competing with American laborers and farmers, and that restricting Chinese immigration would alleviate pressure on the labor market and safeguard American resources.
Overall, the Chinese Exclusion Acts were a product of a convergence of economic, political, and social factors, and reflected a desire to maintain the economic and racial status quo in the United States at the expense of Chinese immigrants.