1924 Immigration Act

The 1924 Immigration Act, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, restrictive immigration law that prioritized limiting arrivals from Southern and Eastern Europe and virtually excluded Asian immigrants. It established quotas based on the 1890 Census, favoring Northern and Western Europeans, and severely restricted overall immigration, aiming to preserve the nation's predominantly Anglo-Saxon demographic. The law reflected the era's racial and ethnic biases, significantly reducing immigration from certain regions and shaping U.S. demographic makeup throughout the 20th century.