미국의 일본이민 배척운동

The Characteristics of Anti-Japanese Movement of the West Coast of the U.S. During the 1910s- Focusing on the Alien Land Act of 1913

This study examines the anti-Japanese movement during the 1910s in the West Coast of the U.S. This study specifically analyzes main factors of the Alien Land Act of 1913 from several perspectives and how this law activated to limit Japanese immigrants. From 1890 rapid encroachment of Japanese immigrants in the area of agriculture stimulated Californians. In 1905 Asiatic Exclusion League in San Francisco established to exclude Japanese immigrants. Unpredicted result of 〈Executive Order 589〉 in 1907 and Gentlemen’s Agreement in 1908 strengthened Californians’ anti-Japanese sentiment. The Alien Land Act of 1913 prohibited ‘aliens ineligible to citizenship’ from owing and leasing lands more than three years in California. But Japanese immigrants used different methods to circumvent the restrictions of this law. They could acquire lands by the name of their children. They also cooperated to lease lands and to plant more than three years. They used crop-contracting to guarantee certain percent of total harvest. As a result, this law which aimed at limiting Japanese agricultural involvement didn’t have enough effect. It is remarkable that landowners eagerly hired Japanese tenants for profitable rice cultivation since the rice industry developed rapidly during the World War I. The ratio of Japanese tenant farmers and the amount of total crop greatly increased during this period. Even though, the efforts to limit Japanese immigrants through the law of Alien land Act of 1913 was not successful during the 1910s, this processing greatly contributed to enact 1920 and 1923 Alien Land Act.