What exactly is the Chinese Exclusion act of 1882?

Answer 1

The short version (straight from memory): specifically limits the immigration of Chinese to immediate family ONLY (usually, sons and daughters). Chinese is the ONLY RACE EVER to receive such a limit in the history of the United States. And technically it wasn't cancelled until AFTER Pearl Harbor.

For long version, you can check wikipedia.

Answer 2

These should help:

http://sun.menloschool.org/~mbrody/ushistory/angel/exclusion_act/

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/chinex.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act_(United_States)