Which legislation aimed to reduce immigration by establishing numerical limits?

The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 was designed to establish numerical limits on immigration to the United States, reflecting a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy during the early 20th century. This legislation introduced a quota system that restricted the number of immigrants from specific countries based on the percentage of existing immigrant populations in the U.S. as recorded in the 1890 census. This was intended to prioritize immigration from Northern and Western European nations while limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as other regions deemed less desirable.

The act was part of a broader nativist movement aiming to reduce the influx of immigrants due to economic concerns and xenophobic sentiments that were rising after World War I. It marked an important turning point in how immigration was regulated, setting a precedent for further restrictive immigration laws in the following decades, such as the Immigration Act of 1924.

In contrast, the other choices represent different aspects of U.S. immigration history. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 did indeed shape immigration policies but did not primarily focus on reducing immigration through numerical limits. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 targeted a specific ethnic group altogether rather than establishing a general quota system. The Bracero Program, which was