Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP US History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Immigration Act of 1924 was a landmark piece of legislation that had a profound impact on the pattern of immigration to the United States. A significant outcome of this act was the establishment of quotas that severely restricted immigration, particularly targeting populations from Southern and Eastern Europe. This legislation aimed to preserve the existing demographic makeup of the nation by favoring immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, who were viewed more favorably by lawmakers at the time.

The quotas were based on the national origins of the U.S. population as recorded in the 1890 census, which meant that countries with larger immigrant populations earlier in U.S. history, like those from Northern and Western Europe, received higher quotas, while those from Southern and Eastern Europe faced much stricter limitations. This effectively curtailed the flow of immigrants from regions that were not aligned with the predominant cultural and ethnic demographics of the U.S. population at the time.

The act did not encourage immigration from all countries, nor did it eliminate all immigration restrictions; it precisely aimed to impose limitations. Additionally, it did not eliminate quotas for Western European countries, as they were still allowed significant numbers of entrants compared to those from other regions. Therefore, the act's legacy was one of restriction and the prioritization of