Foreign Miners Tax

The Foreign Miners' Tax Act of 1850, nicknamed "the miserable law of 20 piastres," was a law passed by California imposing a tax of $20 per month on foreign miners.The Act was repealed in 1851 and subsequently replaced by the Foreign Miners' License Tax Act of 1852, that charged $3 per month.Photo: Trading card by George Dee Magic Washing Machine Company promoting its washing machine which intended to displace Chinese laundry operators.