National Origins Act

The National Origins Act, enacted in 1924, was U.S. legislation that severely limited immigration by establishing quotas based on the racial and national composition of the population as recorded in the 1890 Census. It aimed to restrict immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and virtually excluded immigrants from Asia, particularly targeting non-Northern Europeans. The law reflected prevailing biases and aimed to preserve a perceived American racial makeup. It significantly reduced overall immigration and shaped U.S. demographic patterns for decades, especially favoring immigrants from Northern and Western Europe.