The Chinese exclusion act of 1882 was the first significant law that enforced restrictions towards immigration into the United States of America. When the California Gold Rush began in 1848, it brought with it the promise of wealth, attracting Americans and immigrants. A large portion of the immigrants were Chinese, who dealt with degrading poverty (in China) which originated from a debt-ridden civil war. This expansion of the Chinese lead to the Exclusion act, based upon three significant reasons including economic instability, nativism, and the idea that Chinese were unable to naturalize as citizens. During the immigration for the Gold Rush, the Chinese had originally planned to make money and return to their families in China. However,