Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan

Definition

The Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan was an informal agreement made in 1907 between the United States and Japan to limit Japanese immigration to the U.S. This arrangement arose from rising anti-Japanese sentiment in the U.S., particularly in California, and aimed to ease tensions between the two nations while addressing domestic concerns about immigration and labor competition during a time of economic change.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Gentlemen’s Agreement was not a formal treaty but rather a mutual understanding between the U.S. and Japan, emphasizing diplomatic relations over legal constraints.
2. In response to the agreement, Japan agreed to issue fewer passports to laborers wishing to immigrate to the U.S., while the U.S. agreed to treat Japanese immigrants already in America more fairly.
3. The agreement was motivated by rising anti-Asian sentiment, particularly on the West Coast, where many viewed Japanese immigrants as economic threats.
4. The Gentlemen’s Agreement effectively ended the mass immigration of Japanese laborers to the United States, which had increased significantly in the early 20th century.
5. This arrangement laid the groundwork for more restrictive immigration policies in subsequent decades, reflecting broader themes of nativism and racial discrimination in U.S. immigration law.

Review Questions

• What were the main social and political factors that led to the establishment of the Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan?
  • The establishment of the Gentlemen’s Agreement was primarily driven by rising anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States, especially in California, where many Americans blamed Japanese immigrants for job competition and economic struggles. Political pressures from various groups, including labor unions and nativists, called for restrictions on Japanese immigration. The agreement sought to address these tensions diplomatically by limiting Japanese immigration while preventing further escalation of conflict between Japan and the U.S.
• How did the Gentlemen’s Agreement reflect broader trends in American immigration policy during the early 20th century?
  • The Gentlemen’s Agreement is a clear example of how American immigration policy during the early 20th century increasingly leaned toward exclusion and restriction, particularly against non-Western immigrants. It reflected a growing nativist sentiment that viewed immigrants from Asia as threats to American jobs and culture. This informal agreement paved the way for future legislative measures like the Immigration Act of 1924, which further restricted Asian immigration, showcasing a significant shift towards racial discrimination in U.S. law.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan on U.S.-Japan relations and immigration policy.
  • The Gentlemen’s Agreement had lasting effects on both U.S.-Japan relations and American immigration policy. By limiting Japanese immigration without a formal treaty, it avoided immediate diplomatic conflict but fostered resentment within Japan and set a precedent for future exclusionary practices against Asians. Over time, this informal arrangement contributed to escalating tensions between the two nations, particularly as it coincided with growing militarism in Japan. Additionally, it laid a foundation for more rigid immigration laws that reflected persistent racial biases, shaping America’s demographic landscape well into the mid-20th century.

Related terms

Immigration Act of 1924:

A U.S. federal law that severely restricted immigration from countries outside Western Europe, reflecting the nativist attitudes of the time.

Asian Exclusion Act: Laws passed in the early 20th century that aimed to limit immigration from Asian countries, including Japan, furthering racial discrimination.

Chinese Exclusion Act:

A federal law enacted in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers, setting a precedent for future exclusionary policies against Asian immigrants.