National Origins Act of 1924
Definition
The National Origins Act was a component part of the Immigration Act of 1924 which set quotas on how many individuals could immigrate into America based on their national origin, heavily favoring Northern Europeans over other groups.
Analogy
Think about it like this - you're picking teams for dodgeball at school, but instead of choosing based on skill or friendship, you pick mostly kids wearing blue shirts (because you like blue), leaving out those wearing red or yellow shirts. That's similar to how this act favored certain nationalities over others.
Related terms
Quota System: A system that sets limits on how many individuals from certain countries can immigrate to another country. The National Origins Act used this system.
Ellis Island: This was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the U.S. as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954.
Melting Pot Theory: This is a metaphor for a society where many different types of people blend together as one. The National Origins Act contradicted this theory by limiting immigration from certain countries.
"National Origins Act of 1924" appears in:
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Practice Questions (2)
- What was the main goal of the National Origins Act of 1924?
- What was the main purpose of the National Origins Act of 1924?
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