Magnuson Act facts for kids
The Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act of 1943, also known as the Magnuson Act, was an important immigration law in the United States. It was suggested by U.S. Representative Warren Magnuson from Washington. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on December 17, 1943.
This act was a big step because it allowed Chinese people to immigrate to the U.S. again. This was the first time since the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which had stopped almost all Chinese immigration. The Magnuson Act also let some Chinese immigrants who were already living in the country become U.S. citizens.
However, even with this new law, Chinese Americans often faced challenges. In many states, they were not allowed to own property. This rule was either official law or just how things worked in practice. These restrictions on property ownership continued until the Magnuson Act was fully replaced in 1965.
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A New Era for Immigration Laws
The Magnuson Act was the first law since 1870 to reduce racial and national barriers in U.S. immigration. It paved the way for future laws that would make immigration policies completely non-racial. This led to the more open immigration laws of the late 1960s.
Why the Act Was Passed
The Magnuson Act was passed on December 17, 1943. This was two years after the Republic of China became an official ally of the United States during World War II. The U.S. wanted to show support for its Chinese allies.
The Quota System: A Small Step
Even though the act was seen as a positive change, it was still quite strict for Chinese immigrants. It set a very small annual limit, or quota, of only 105 new entry visas for Chinese people.
How the Quota Was Calculated
The quota was supposedly based on the Immigration Act of 1924. This older law set immigration limits for certain countries at 2% of the number of people from that country already living in the U.S. in 1890. However, the 105-person limit for Chinese immigrants was much lower than it should have been. Based on official numbers, the quota should have been around 2,150 people per year.
Later Changes to Immigration
No matter how it was calculated, the number of Chinese immigrants allowed into the U.S. was very small compared to other groups. Chinese immigration increased later with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. This law removed direct racial barriers. Even more changes came with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which completely ended the old quota system based on national origins.
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| Long title | An Act to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Acts, to establish quotas, and for other purposes. |
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| Acronyms (colloquial) | CERA |
| Nicknames | Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act of 1943 |
| Enacted by | the 78th United States Congress |
| Effective | December 17, 1943 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | Pub.L. 78-199 |
| Statutes at Large | 57 Stat. 600 |
| Codification | |
| Acts repealed | Chinese Exclusion Act |
| Titles amended | 8 U.S.C.: Aliens and Nationality |
| U.S.C. sections amended | 8 U.S.C. ch. 7 §§ 262-297 & 299 |
| Legislative history | |
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