“The annual quota of any nationality shall be 2
per centum of the number of foreign-born
individuals of such nationality resident in
continental United States as determined by the
United States census of 1890, but the minimum
quota of any nationality shall be 100.”
— Section 11a, Immigration Act of 1924
The passage of this act reflects the American
public’s perception that
(1) too many immigrants were coming into the
country
(2) dictatorships were emerging in western Europe
(3) fewer workers were needed in consumer
goods industries
(4) economic prosperity was dependent on
unskilled foreign labor