1849: The California Gold Rush starts. With it comes an influx of Chinese laborers, who seek a better life.
1868: The Burlingame Treaty is ratified, allowing free immigration between China and America. The treaty was later revoked.
1879: The 15 Passenger Bill is passed, limiting Chinese immigrants to 15 per ship.
1880: The Angell Treaty, which gives the US the power to "regulate, limit, or suspend such coming or residence, but... not absolutely prohibit it." However, the US ignored the policy when writing the Chinese Exclusion Act.
1882: A draft of the Chinese Exclusion Act which proposed 20 years of exclusion is vetoed by President Arthur on the grounds that it violated the Angell Treaty.
1882: The Chinese Exclusion is passed. It prevents Chinese immigration for a period of 10 years.
1888: The Scott Act is passed, which disallows Chinese immigrants that were visiting China to return.
Wong Kim Ark
1904: The Chinese Exclusion Laws are extended indefinitely.
1910: Angel Island is opened.
1875: The Page Act is passed, barring Chinese women suspected for being in the country for "lewd and immoral purposes" from immigrating.
1892: The Geary Act is passed, renewing the Chinese Exclusion Act for 10 years.
1898: The Supreme Court upholds the 14th Amendment in Wong Kim Ark v. United States.
1902: The Chinese Exclusion Act and all other acts are extended. "That all laws now in force prohibiting and regulating the coming of Chinese persons, and persons of Chinese descent, into the United States, and the residence of such persons therein...are hereby, re-enacted, extended, and continued" -Extension of Exclusion Act, 1902
1943: The Magnuson Act repeals the Chinese Exclusion Act, setting a quota of 105 immigrants per year.