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Look Into the Immigration Act of 1924

Look Into the Immigration Act of 1924

Looking Into the Immigration Act of 1924: A Historical Overview

The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, was a groundbreaking immigration policy that significantly influenced the United States’ immigration system. The law established quotas to limit the number of immigrants allowed into the country annually. This article examines the background, purpose, and impact of the Immigration Act of 1924.

Background

The Immigration Act of 1924 was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge in May 1924, following years of debate on colonization and restriction of immigrants. The First World War, political unrest in Europe, and a surge in immigration during the early 20th century prompted lawmakers to establish immigration policies to regulate the flow of people into the United States.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Immigration Act of 1924 was to reduce the number of immigrants coming to America from certain countries and to maintain American identity. The law established set quotas for immigrants based on their country of origin. Only two percent of the total number of people of each nationality in the United States, according to the 1890 census, was allowed to enter the country each year. The goal was to restrict the number of immigrants from non-Western European countries such as Italy, Russia, and Eastern European countries.

Impact

The impact of the Immigration Act of 1924 was significant. The law effectively limited the number of immigrants allowed into the United States for a generation. The quotas set by the legislation remained in place until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The Act received support from people who wanted to preserve American identity and limit competition for jobs. However, it also faced opposition from those who believed the law would go against the American tradition of welcoming immigrants and their contributions to the economy. The act sparked controversy and criticism in the U.S. and abroad, primarily from countries that were affected by the strict immigration quotas.

Conclusion

The Immigration Act of 1924 remains one of the most extraordinary immigration policies in the U.S. history. The law significantly limited the number of immigrants allowed into the United States each year and remained in effect for over four decades. The legislation had a significant impact on U.S. immigration policy and continues to shape the country’s current immigration laws. Although the culture and views of the United States have shifted since the Immigration Act of 1924, the history and impact of the law continue to play an essential role in the country’s immigration debate.


The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, was a United States federal law that placed a limit on the number of immigrants who could be admitted from any foreign country to 2% of the number of people who already resided in the United States since 1890.

The 1924 immigration law was a benchmark piece of legislation that created, for the first time, a decreasing cap on the permissible number of immigrants moving to the United States. The 1924 Immigration Law revised the 3% cap instituted by the Immigration Restriction Act of 1921–both pieces of legislation were based off the 1890 census.

The 1924 Immigration Law superseded the 1921 Emergency Quota Act; the immigration law was primarily aimed at restricting the immigration of Eastern and Southern Europeans who were moving to the United States in large numbers during the 1890s. In addition, the 1924 Immigration Law aimed to prohibit the expansion and relocation of East Asian and Asian Indians.