Date of Award

4-1988

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

John V. Kofas

Second Advisor

Thomas E. Hackey

Abstract

In 1900, due to anti-Japanese attitudes on the West Coast, especially in California, the federal government, in conjunction with the government of Japan passed a Gentleman's Agreement. Basically this agreement stated that Japanese laborers (coolies) would not be permitted to come directly from Japan to the United States. At the time this agreement was reached there were approximately 12,000 Japanese in California. By 1901 the number of coolies coming to the United States from Japan had dropped by one-half. However, this was only a temporary reprieve. While the numbers coming directly from Japan had dropped dramatically, the number of Japanese laborers coming from places like Hawaii and Canada were gradually increasing. By 1905 it was obvious that the Gentleman's Agreement was not working. The Californians felt that something needed to be done, but there was no legislation coming out of Congress, and President Theodore Roosevelt was very pro-Japanese. Thus, he was not willing to try anything that would risk the Japanese friendship which the United States had enjoyed since Admiral Perry first touched the shores of this island nation.

Comments

An Essay Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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