In all of Chinese history, the Manchu pigtail was the haircut that caused the greatest controversy.

The 1870 Sanitary Ordinance, intended to prevent unhealthy tenement conditions in San Francisco, overcrowded jails, prompting the Pigtail Ordinance. The Sanitary Ordinance required a fine or a week or more in jail, but many impoverished Chinese immigrants welcomed free accommodation and board. The Supervisors began shaving all convicts' heads to prevent lice and fleas. However, many equal rights supporters argued the Supervisors' ultimate objective was to stop willing Chinese inmates.

Late 19th century Chinese immigration to the US increased. By 1880, California had 100,000 Chinese residents. 90% of immigrants were men who came to the US to support their families. They had to keep their queue braids to avoid being branded revolutionary as most of them returned to China. The Pigtail Ordinance was intended to deter Chinese immigrants from violating the city's sanitary code. Anti Chinese animosity drove the Pigtail Ordinance, trying to deter Chinese immigrants from coming to the US.

Since 1644, Han men in China had to wear a queue braid and shave their foreheads to show their allegiance to the Qing dynasty. Han Chinese had a queue braid on the back of their heads because they had long hair. They strongly opposed forehead shaving.