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Catalog of Lectures

Lecture
US - Midwestern States
US - Migrations
US - New England
US - Southern States
US - West Coast
20th Century
Immigration
Records and Research

Closing the Golden Doors: The Immigration Act of 1924

From the mid-19th through the early 20th century waves of European immigrants arrived on American shores seeking new opportunities. Unfortunately, this period also ushered in antisemitic and prejudiced attitudes toward these immigrants, which culminated in the passing of the Immigration Act of 1924. The act introduced an immigrant quota system and other policies that would cause immigration to plummet in the following years. In this lecture, our expert will discuss the historical context of the Immigration Act of 1924, how the act shaped immigration records, and how the “closing of the golden doors” impacted the lives of your ancestors.