Question

How and why did the U.S. government reinforce nativist attitudes during the 1920s?

Answer 1

The U.S. government supported nativist attitudes during the 1920's due to the rising levels of nationalist sentiment that was growing within the American population. The outcome of WWI and other related events had shifted popular opinion well in that direction. As a means of supporting these positions, the government issued the Emergency Immigration Act of 1921 and National Origins Act of 1924, pieces of legislation which imposed quotas on the allowable levels of immigration from certain European nations.