Gentlemen's Agreement

Definition

The Gentlemen's Agreement refers to an informal agreement between the United States and Japan in 1907-1908. It aimed to reduce Japanese immigration to the U.S. by having Japan voluntarily limit the number of its citizens emigrating to America.

Related terms

Immigration Restriction Act of 1924: This act set strict quotas on immigration based on nationality, significantly reducing Japanese immigration.

Angel Island: Known as the "Ellis Island of the West," Angel Island was an immigration station where many Asian immigrants, including Japanese, were detained and interrogated before entering the U.S.

Nativism: Nativism is a belief that favors native-born inhabitants over immigrants and promotes policies that restrict or limit immigration.