Gentlemen's Agreement

Definition

The Gentlemen's Agreement was an informal, unwritten agreement between the United States and Japan in the early 20th century that aimed to limit Japanese immigration to the U.S. in response to rising anti-Asian sentiment. This agreement emerged during a time when increasing numbers of Japanese immigrants were arriving, and it was intended to ease tensions between the two nations while simultaneously addressing domestic concerns about labor competition and racial prejudice.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Gentlemen's Agreement was established in 1907, when Japan agreed to limit the emigration of laborers to the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. agreeing to treat Japanese immigrants already in America fairly.
2. This agreement did not involve any official treaties or laws, making it an informal understanding based on mutual respect and diplomatic negotiations.
3. The Gentlemen's Agreement was a response to growing tensions in San Francisco, where Japanese students were segregated in schools, leading to diplomatic protests from Japan.
4. Although the agreement reduced immigration, it did not completely stop it; many Japanese people still found ways to immigrate through loopholes or by using other countries as intermediaries.
5. The arrangement lasted until 1924 when the U.S. implemented stricter immigration laws that effectively banned all Asian immigrants, ending the era of significant Japanese migration.

Review Questions

• How did the Gentlemen's Agreement reflect the socio-political climate in the United States during the early 20th century?
  • The Gentlemen's Agreement illustrated the growing anti-Asian sentiment in the United States during this period. It was a direct response to rising tensions in cities like San Francisco, where racial prejudice against Japanese immigrants was prominent. The agreement highlighted how domestic concerns about labor competition and racial attitudes influenced U.S. foreign policy, showcasing a need for diplomatic solutions amidst societal unrest.
• Analyze the impact of the Gentlemen's Agreement on Japanese immigration patterns and U.S.-Japan relations during its implementation.
  • The Gentlemen's Agreement significantly impacted Japanese immigration patterns by reducing the flow of laborers entering the United States. While it was intended to ease tensions between Japan and the U.S., it ultimately led to increased resentment among Japanese nationals. This tension was compounded by subsequent discriminatory policies like the Immigration Act of 1924, which completely halted Asian immigration, straining U.S.-Japan relations further in the following decades.
• Evaluate how the Gentlemen's Agreement set a precedent for future immigration policies in the United States concerning Asian populations.
  • The Gentlemen's Agreement set a crucial precedent for future U.S. immigration policies by establishing a framework for racial discrimination that would persist well into the 20th century. The informal nature of this agreement reflected an underlying nativist sentiment that influenced later legislation, including restrictive quotas targeting Asian immigrants. It exemplified how diplomatic agreements could be shaped by domestic racism, ultimately leading to policies that systematically excluded certain ethnic groups from entering the United States.

Related terms

Immigration Act of 1924: A U.S. federal law that significantly restricted immigration from countries outside of Western Europe, effectively limiting Asian immigration and enforcing quotas.

Anti-Asian Sentiment: Prejudice and discrimination directed towards Asian immigrants and their descendants, often rooted in fears about economic competition and cultural differences.

Nativism: A political policy that favors the interests of native-born inhabitants over those of immigrants, often manifesting in opposition to immigration.