The Gentlemen's Agreement (1907–08) primarily curtailed immigration from which country in exchange for U.S. emigration restrictions?

• A. Korea
• B. Japan
• C. Philippines
• D. China

Answer: (B)

The United States used an informal diplomatic bargain to manage immigration and racial tensions in the early 20th century. The Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907–08 was aimed at Japanese immigrants: Washington agreed to refrain from further discriminatory measures against Japanese in the U.S. (and to address the San Francisco school segregation issue), while Japan agreed to curb the emigration of laborers to the United States by limiting new passports for Japanese workers. This exchange effectively reduced immigration from Japan, with limited Japanese family reunification allowed for those already in the country.

Other countries listed did not motivate this particular agreement. The situation stemmed from the large Japanese labor movement and the anti-Japanese sentiment on the West Coast, not Korea, the Philippines, or China.