The Quota Acts of 1921 and 1924 primarily targeted which demographic for immigration limitations?

The Quota Acts of 1921 and 1924 were instrumental in establishing immigration policies that significantly restricted the flow of immigrants into the United States. These laws primarily targeted individuals from Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as Asia, while favoring those from Northern and Western Europe.

The 1921 Emergency Quota Act specifically allowed a limited number of immigrants from each country, calculated based on the 1890 census, which resulted in a substantial quota for immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, reflecting the demographic composition of the U.S. population at that time. The 1924 Immigration Act further tightened these restrictions, significantly lowering quotas for Eastern Europeans and virtually eliminating immigration from Asia altogether.

This legislative focus was motivated by the nativist sentiment prevalent in the U.S. during the early 20th century, which emphasized the superiority of Northern and Western European immigrants over others. These acts are historically significant because they marked a shift towards policies that prioritized certain nationalities while discriminating against others, laying a foundation for future immigration policies in the U.S.