National-origins quotas were laws that restricted immigration to the United States based on a person's country of origin. These quotas aimed to limit the number of immigrants from certain countries, particularly those in Southern and Eastern Europe.
Related terms
Immigration Act of 1924: This law established the national-origins quota system, setting limits on the number of immigrants allowed based on their country of origin.
Ellis Island: The primary immigration station in New York City, where millions of immigrants were processed before entering the United States during the era when national-origins quotas were in effect.
Chinese Exclusion Act: An earlier law passed in 1882 that prohibited Chinese laborers (except for certain exempted groups) from immigrating to the United States.