Asiatic Barred Zone

Definition

The Asiatic Barred Zone referred to an area included in the Immigration Act of 1917 that denied immigration from most regions in Asia.

Analogy

Imagine if you were playing a game where certain areas on the map are off-limits and you can't access them no matter how hard you try. That's what it was like for Asians wanting to immigrate - they were essentially barred from entering America because they fell within this "off-limits" zone.

Related terms

Exclusion Acts: Laws passed by Congress aimed at restricting immigration into the US.

Yellow Peril: A color metaphor for race that describes Western fears about East Asian immigrant threat.

Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907): An informal agreement between U.S. and Japan whereby U.S. would not impose restriction on Japanese immigration, and Japan would not allow further emigration to U.S.