The Immigration Act of 1924

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Key Facts

I

What Was It?

A federal law that severely restricted immigration to the United States by establishing national origin quotas.

II

When?

Signed into law on May 26, 1924, by President Calvin Coolidge. Also known as the Johnson-Reed Act.

III

What Did It Do?

Limited annual immigration from any country to 2% of the number of people from that country already living in the US in 1890.

IV

Who Was Affected?

Effectively banned immigration from Asia entirely and heavily restricted Southern and Eastern European immigration.

V

How Long?

The quota system remained in effect until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act) abolished it.

VI

Why It Matters

It shaped the ethnic composition of the US for decades and is a key example of institutionalized discrimination in American history.

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M&C
Hey! So uhm... we're Maike and Christopher. We couldn't be there today but, like, feel free to ask us anything about the Immigration Act of 1924! We, uhm... we prepared pretty well, I think. Probably. Yeah.
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