Answer & Explanation:
The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, had a significant impact on immigration to the United States. Here are some key points regarding its effects:
1. Quota System: The act established a quota system that limited the number of immigrants allowed into the country. The quotas were based on national origin and aimed to restrict immigration from certain regions, particularly Southern and Eastern Europe, which were considered undesirable by the proponents of the act.
2. National Origins Formula: The act introduced a formula that allocated immigration quotas based on the proportion of each nationality present in the U.S. population according to the 1890 census. This formula favored immigrants from Western and Northern European countries while severely limiting immigration from other parts of the world.
3. Reduction in Total Immigration: The implementation of the quota system significantly reduced overall immigration to the United States. The annual number of immigrants allowed was capped at 150,000, a drastic reduction compared to previous years. This restriction aimed to preserve the existing ethnic composition of the population and limit the influence of non-Western and non-Northern European immigrants.
4. Impact on Southern and Eastern European Immigration: The Immigration Act of 1924 had a particularly profound effect on immigration from Southern and Eastern European countries. These regions experienced a substantial decrease in immigration, as the quotas assigned to them were significantly lower compared to Western and Northern European countries. Consequently, it led to a decline in the number of immigrants from Italy, Poland, Greece, and other countries in that region.
5. Exclusion of Asian Immigrants: The act extended the existing ban on immigration from Asian countries, including China and Japan. It reinforced discriminatory policies that had already been in place, severely limiting immigration from Asia and perpetuating racial and ethnic biases in the immigration system.
Overall, the Immigration Act of 1924 marked a shift towards a more restrictive immigration policy in the United States. It significantly curtailed immigration from certain regions of the world and reinforced discriminatory practices based on national origin and race. The act's effects were felt for decades and had a lasting impact on the demographic composition of the American population.