1880

When Secretary of State Evarts was requested by Hebrews in the United States “to make such representations to the Tsar’s Government, in the interest of religious freedom and suffering humanity, as will best accord with the most emphasized liberal sentiments of the American people,” he instructed Mr. Foster, the American Minister:

“You are sufficiently well informed of the liberal sentiments of this government to perceive that whenever any pertinent occasion may arise its attitude must always be in complete harmony with the principle of extending all the rights and privileges, without distinction on account of creed, and cannot fail, therefore, to conduct any affair of business or negotiation with the government to which you are accredited, which may involve any expression of the views of this government on the subject, in a manner which will subserve the interests of religious freedom. It would, of course, be inadmissible for the government of the United States to approach the Government of Russia in criticism of its laws and regulations, except so far as such laws and regulations may injuriously affect citizens of this country, in violation of natural rights, treaty obligations, or the provisions of international law, but it is desired that the attitude of the minister, as regards questions of diplomatic controversy, which involve an expression of view on this subject, may be wholly consistent with the theory on which this government was founded.”

This, along with speeches in Congress and throughout the country, voiced the disapproval of the Jews treatment and showed the victims across the water that in at least one country the Jew found sympathy and could expect fair treatment. The Russian foreign minister fired back and inquired if the Americans, in a similar manner, were not seeking to exclude or regulate the Chinese immigrants and deny them rights extended to other inhabitants.

1882

First Russian refugees arrive in New York, speaker at protest exclaims…

“Let them come! I would to heaven it were in our power to take the whole 3 million Jews in Russia. The valley of the Mississippi alone could throw her strong arms around them, and draw them all to her opulent bosom, and bless them with homes of comfort, prosperity, and happiness.”

1890

House of Representatives adopts resolution requesting examination of treatment of American citizens in Russia. At the same time, the American minister made a formal protest to the Russian government, stating that the matter was not purely internal since it affected the interests of the United States.

1903

Secretary of State issues protest of Kishinev massacre. The Kishinev massacre was a horrible event in which forty-nine Jews were murdered and hundreds were wounded, aroused universal condemnation and protest. For the first time, Jews in the United States took the lead in organizing nationwide protests. In addition to hundreds of demonstrations and meetings held throughout the nation, a massive petition drive protesting the slaughter was organized. Since the Russian authorities refused to accept the petition, it was deposited instead in the State Department’s vault in a special box constructed to house it. In his letter accepting the petition, Secretary of State John Hay wrote: “It is a valuable addition to the public literature and it will be sacredly cherished among the treasures of the Department.”

1910

Congress votes to repeal treaty with Russia

1914- 1918

World War I

1921

Emergency Quota Law enacted. The objective of this act was to temporarily limit the numbers of immigrants to the United States by imposing quotas based on country of birth which were calculated at 3 percent of the total number of foreign-born persons from that country recorded in the 1910 United States Census.

1924

The 1924 Immigration Act set quotas that limited annual immigration from particular countries. The legislation identified who could enter as a “non-quota” immigrant; this category included wives and unmarried children (under 18 years of age) of US citizens, residents of the Western hemisphere, religious or academic professionals, and “bona-fide students” under 15 years of age. Those not in any of these categories were referred to as a “quota immigrant” and were subject to annual numerical limitations.

For quota immigrants, the Act stated that preference would be given to family members of US citizens and to immigrants who were skilled in agriculture.

Quotas were to be calculated as follows:

Until July 1st, 1927, allowable annual quotas for each nationality would be two percent of the total population of that nationality as recorded in the 1890 Census. The minimum quota was 100.

After July 1st, 1927, allowable annual quotas for each nationality would be based on the national origins – ‘by birth or ancestry’ – of the total US population as recorded in 1920. The overall quota of 150,000 immigrants would be divided between countries in proportion to the ancestry of the 1920 population, with a minimum quota of 100.