The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was significant as it marked the first major law implemented to restrict immigration to the United States based on nationality. Targeting Chinese laborers, the Act reflected widespread anti-Chinese sentiment and racism among American citizens who viewed them as competition for jobs, particularly in the West. This legislation banned Chinese immigrants from entering the U.S. and denied citizenship to those already living in America. The Act was a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration policy, setting a precedent for future restrictive laws and highlighting the racial and cultural tensions in American society during that era.