One major factor that made U.S. immigration policies more exclusionary and isolationist in the late 1800s was the rise of nativism. Nativism is a belief that native-born Americans are superior to immigrants and should have priority in society. This sentiment was fueled by economic concerns, as many nativists believed that immigrants were taking jobs away from American workers. Additionally, cultural and racial prejudice played a role in shaping exclusionary immigration policies, as many Americans feared the perceived threat of "foreign" ideas and influences. These attitudes resulted in the passage of laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Immigration Act of 1924, which restricted immigration from certain countries and implemented quotas based on nationality.
