AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Early 20th Century Immigration Restrictions (Day 232/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about Early 20th Century Immigration Restrictions as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

“The Hyphenated American,” Wikimedia Commons

In the post-World War 1 period, there was a significant rise in nativist sentiments which provoked a series of legislative measures aimed at controlling the influx of immigrants to the United States. 

“The Americanese Wall, as Congressman Burnett would Build It,” Wikimedia Commons

The entry of Asian immigrants continued to be restricted in the early 20th century. The Immigration Act of 1917 prohibited immigration from certain Asian countries and implemented literacy tests.

“The Only Way to Handle It,” Wikimedia Commons

The Immigration Act of 1921, also known as the Emergency Quota Act, established the first numerical quotas on immigration, limiting the number of newcomers based on nationality. 

“America of the Melting Pot Comes to an End,” Wikimedia Commons

The Immigration Act of 1924 reinforced restrictive measures by providing visas to only 2% of applicants based on the national origins of the population in the 1890 census. With higher populations of immigrants from Western and Northern European nations, these regions continued to be disproportionately favored. 

Immigration Restrictions in the early 20th century were fueled by nativist sentiments and shifted towards a more exclusionary approach, severely limiting opportunities for immigrants from specific regions. 

Join me tomorrow as I explain Religious Fundamentalism in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!