Quota Act of 1921 Flashcards

Study Notes

Quota Act of 1921

Set a 3% limit on immigration from individual nations based on their representation in the U.S. population.
Aimed to restrict immigration and manage the influx of new arrivals from various countries.

National Origins Act (1924)

Reduced immigration cap to 2% based on the percentage of each nationality present in the U.S. in 1890.
Primarily impacted immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and completely excluded Asian immigrants.

Irish Potato Famine

Occurred in 1845 due to potato crop disease in Ireland.
Caused over 1 million deaths and mass emigration to the United States as Irish farmers were forced to export other food products to Great Britain.

Burlingame Treaty (1868)

Ratified to promote Chinese immigration for labor needs during U.S. railroad construction.
Increased the number of Chinese immigrants between 1868 and 1882 until it was reversed by the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

First significant law in the U.S. to restrict immigration of a specific ethnic group (Chinese).
Initially intended to last 10 years but was extended and remained in effect until WWII, reflecting strong nativism sentiments.

Naturalization Act

Changed the citizenship process by increasing the residency requirement from 5 years to 14 years.
Aimed to limit the number of new citizens and potentially influenced the demographics of the U.S. population.

Pull Factors of Immigration

Economic opportunities such as jobs and land prompted immigration.
Factors included the desire for peace and stability, and the freedom to pursue a better life.

Push Factors of Immigration

Driven by poverty, political repression, ethnic conflicts, war, unemployment, and crises such as the Irish Potato Famine (1846-1851).
Highlighted the dire conditions that forced individuals to seek refuge and opportunity abroad.

English

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Description

Dive into the key concepts of the Quota Act of 1921 and its implications on immigration policy in the United States. This quiz provides important definitions and insights into related acts, such as the National Origins Act of 1924, making it an essential study tool for understanding American immigration history.