Ruth Negga

On May 26, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signed the Immigration Act of 1924 into law, creating the strictest immigration restrictions the United States had seen up to that point. Known as the Johnson-Reed Act, the legislation reflected the mood of post-World War I America, where fears of foreign influence, economic competition, and the spread of communism were growing rapidly. The law introduced national quotas that heavily favored immigrants from Northern European countries while sharply limiting arrivals from Eastern and Southern Europe and effectively banning immigration from Japan.

The act used a quota system based on the U.S. population census of 1890, allowing immigration from each nation at only two percent of the number already living in America at that time. Critics argued that the law was rooted in racial and ethnic discrimination, as it was specifically designed to preserve what lawmakers considered America’s existing “racial balance.” Skilled workers and educated immigrants were still welcomed more readily, but the legislation created significant barriers for many others seeking a new life in the United States.

The law also caused international tension, particularly with Japan. Japanese leaders viewed the restrictions as a national insult, especially after earlier diplomatic agreements had eased tensions over immigration. Anti-American feelings increased in Japan following the act’s passage, while in the United States the legislation became a defining symbol of the country’s isolationist policies during the 1920s. Ironically, the same year saw Coolidge approve another lasting symbol of America when he designated Statue of Liberty as a national monument.

On May 26, 1927, Henry Ford and his son Edsel Ford drove the 15 millionth Ford Model T out of the factory, bringing production of the legendary automobile to an official end. First introduced in 1908, the Model T transformed American transportation by making car ownership affordable for ordinary families. Nicknamed the “Tin Lizzie,” the vehicle was simple, durable, and reliable enough to handle the rough roads of early 20th-century America, helping connect rural communities and change daily life across the country.

The Model T’s popularity was so enormous that it reshaped the nation itself. As millions of Americans purchased automobiles for the first time, governments rushed to improve highways and road systems to keep up with growing traffic. Over time, however, the once-revolutionary car began to look outdated as competitors introduced more stylish and modern vehicles. By the mid-1920s, sales had slowed dramatically, forcing Ford to end production while preparing for the release of its successor, the Model A.

Even after production stopped, the Model T’s influence remained impossible to ignore. Writers such as Ernest Hemingway, E. B. White, and John Steinbeck referenced the famous automobile in their work, while Charlie Chaplin used it for comedic effect in his 1928 film The Circus. Few inventions have left such a lasting mark on both American culture and everyday life.