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Immigration Act of 1882

Definition

This was a United States federal law that placed a head tax on non-citizens arriving in the U.S and made certain categories of individuals ineligible for immigration, marking the start of restrictive immigration policies.

Analogy

Think about going to an amusement park where you have to pay an entrance fee (head tax), but they also won't let you in if you don't meet certain height requirements or if you're wearing inappropriate clothing (ineligible categories).

Related terms

Chinese Exclusion Act: An act passed in 1882 that banned Chinese immigrants from entering the U.S for ten years. It's like banning all people with red hair from entering the amusement park because of stereotypes associated with them.

Ellis Island: The gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the U.S as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. Imagine it as a giant waiting room where your eligibility to enter is determined.

Naturalization: The process by which an immigrant becomes a citizen. Like graduating from being a guest at the party to becoming an official member.