The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Oscar Handlin famously wrote, “Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history.” As we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of its passing, this course focuses on the Immigration Act 1924, also known as the National Origins Act or the Johnson-Reed Act. The 1924 legislation (in)famously changed the immigration landscape by restricting immigration from Asia and limited immigration from Europe and other countries. In this  course, we will understand the context of the passing of this immigration act and its implications for immigration in the following decades, keeping in mind that debates over immigration tie into larger debates about the very definition of the United States and American identity. Questions? Contact us at The Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts (PALA). Email sps.pala.ce@nyu.edu or call 212-998-7289.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 0

You'll walk away with

• An understanding of the context of the 1924 Immigration Act and its ramifications
• A familiarity with significant primary and secondary historical documents

Ideal for

• History lovers
• Those interested in immigration policy