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Immigration in the Early 20th Century

• By the end of 1920, immigration levels approached prewar figures.

• Ellis Island once again became a bustling hub for immigrants.

• Discussions surrounding immigration in Congress were filled with anxiety and fear.

Rise of Restrictionist Sentiment

• Influential groups including the American Legion and the American Federation of Labor voiced concerns about imminent immigration.

• Fears were fueled by warnings of "hordes" of impoverished individuals fleeing the aftermath of war.

• The reduction in maritime travel costs facilitated immigration.

• Congressman Albert Johnson, a prominent restrictionist, advocated for an immediate two-year halt to immigration to avoid being overwhelmed by what he termed "undesirable aliens."

• Johnson cited estimates from American consulates in Europe, notably a prediction of 100,000 to 350,000 Polish Jews wishing to emigrate to the U.S.

• Concerns from consuls in Italy highlighted perceived threats from socialist ideas among the emigrants.

• Johnson argued for total restrictions to prevent the entry of subversive individuals into the U.S.

Congressional Action and Quotas

• Support for immigration restrictions became widespread in Congress, driven by nativism, job scarcity, and anti-Bolshevism.

• In May 1921, Congress enacted an emergency measure limiting immigration to 355,000 annually.

• This legislation set quotas for each European nation at 3% based on the number of that nationality’s foreign-born citizens in the U.S. in 1910.

• Congress allocated fourteen months to develop a permanent immigration policy.

The Johnson-Reed Act of 1924

• The period between the 1921 legislation and the Johnson-Reed Act saw intense debate over immigration policy design.

• This act would solidify values regarding which immigrant sources were deemed acceptable and would reshape the social structure of the nation.

• Many nativists viewed the 3% quotas established in 1921 as flawed, advocating for a new system based on the 1890 census.

• They argued that the 1890 basis would drastically reduce immigration from southern and eastern European nations, limiting their contributions to only 15% of total immigration.

Criticism of the Proposed Quotas

• The discriminatory nature of the 1890 formula led critics to call for the most up-to-date figures from the 1920 census.

• Using more recent census data was seen as a more equitable approach, but debate continued over the implications of such demographics on national identity and policy.