Immigrant children on Ellis Island rooftop playground, early 1900s

The Johnson Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 made cunning use of statistics to change the complexion of American immigration. It limited immigrants from each country according to their proportion in the U.S. population in 1890, a time prior to the major waves of southern and eastern European immigration when the U.S. was decidedly more Anglo-Nordic in composition. This had the eugenicists - desired effect of cutting off immigration from southern and eastern Europe. This xenophobia persisted for half a century - U.S. immigration did not reach pre-Johnson Act levels again until the late 1980s. (DNAi location: Chronicle > Threat of the Unfit > Epilogue)

immigration restriction act,immigration restriction act of 1924,rooftop playground,european immigration,johnson act,immigrant children,american immigration,xenophobia,ellis island,early 1900s,half a century,desired effect,complexion,epilogue,eastern europe,immigrants,nordic,1980s,proportion,waves

  • ID: 15739
  • Source: DNALC.DNAi

Related Content

15793. Immigrants on an Atlantic liner, early 1900s.

Eugenicists were concerned about the hundreds of thousands of southern and eastern Europeans who were entering the country each year through the U.S. immigration facility at Ellis Island,

  • ID: 15793
  • Source: DNAi

15791. Aliens at Ellis Island

Types of aliens awaiting admission at Ellis Island station. Source: National Park Service, Statue of Liberty National Monument.

  • ID: 15791
  • Source: DNAi

11484. Eastern European immigrant at Ellis Island (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

Eastern European immigrant at Ellis Island (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

  • ID: 11484
  • Source: EA

11496. Immigrant children on "roof garden" playground at Ellis Island (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

Immigrant children on "roof garden" playground at Ellis Island (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

  • ID: 11496
  • Source: EA

11119. "Europe as an emigrant-exporting continent," Harry H. Laughlin testimony before the House Committee, including Immigration Restriction Act

"Europe as an emigrant-exporting continent," Harry H. Laughlin testimony before the House Committee, including Immigration Restriction Act

  • ID: 11119
  • Source: EA

11133. "Europe as an emigrant-exporting continent," Harry H. Laughlin testimony before the House Committee, including Immigration Restriction Act (14)

"Europe as an emigrant-exporting continent," Harry H. Laughlin testimony before the House Committee, including Immigration Restriction Act (14)

  • ID: 11133
  • Source: EA

15433. Eugenics, race discrimination, and anti-immigration laws in the United States, James Watson

James Watson talks about eugenics, race discrimination, and anti-immigration laws in the United States.

  • ID: 15433
  • Source: DNAi

11494. Immigrant children on "roof garden" playground at Ellis Island, with "Uncle Sam" cart (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

Immigrant children on "roof garden" playground at Ellis Island, with "Uncle Sam" cart (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

  • ID: 11494
  • Source: EA

11486. European immigrant at Ellis Island (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

European immigrant at Ellis Island (Photograph by Augustus Sherman)

  • ID: 11486
  • Source: EA

11127. "Europe as an emigrant-exporting continent," Harry H. Laughlin testimony before the House Committee, including Immigration Restriction Act (8)

"Europe as an emigrant-exporting continent," Harry H. Laughlin testimony before the House Committee, including Immigration Restriction Act (8)

  • ID: 11127
  • Source: EA