The Burlingame-Seward Treaty of 1868 was a major milestone in US-China relations. Negotiated with the help of Anson Burlingame, a former congressman from Massachusetts, the treaty established some basic articles that served to advance the principle of equality between the two nations, granting Americans most-favored-nation status in China, and Chinese most-favored-nation status in the US. The treaty recognized China’s right to eminent domain, while also granting concessions to American business and missionary interests in China. Protections for commerce conducted in ports and cities in China, and for American Christians to freely practice their religion in China were established. At the same time, the Chinese were given the right to appoint consuls to port cities in the US. Importantly, the US and China recognized the mutual rights of their citizens and subjects to freely migrate from one country to the other for purposes of curiosity, trade, or permanent residence, providing such was based on “an entirely voluntary emigration for these purposes.” In addition, the treaty granted Chinese and Americans reciprocal access to public education while living in the other country.
Since China had previously restricted the right of its subjects to emigrate abroad, this treaty greatly facilitated the flow of Chinese migration, especially labor migration, to the US, and was therefore initially welcomed by American business and industrial leaders.
For more information see “Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations” published by the US Department of State Office of the Historian.
For the original text of the treaty click here.