Immigration Legislations Of The 1920s

Question 1

1917 Immigration Act

Answer 1

Lists a number of ‘undesirable’ immigrants to be excluded, including homosexuals, insane persons and criminals; it also imposes a literacy qualification for anyone over 16

Question 2

1921 Emergency Quota Act

Answer 2

Restricts yearly number of immigrants from any country to 3% of the total number of people from that country living in the USA in 1910

Question 3

1924 Johnson-Reed Immigration Act

Answer 3

Changed the quota system to 2% of people from the country of origin in the 1890 census (tipping the balance further in favour of Northern Europe) until 1927

Question 4

1927 Johnson-Reed Immigration Act

Answer 4

The number of immigrants was to be fixed at 150,000 and was to be based on the 1920 census

Question 5

1929 National Origins Formula

Answer 5

Confirms the 150,000 limit and bans Asian immigration altogether