1924
Immigration Act of 1924
Sets national-origin quotas based on the 1890 census and bars immigration from most of Asia.
The interwar years and the New Deal. 1921–1940
Immigration quotas, the Great Depression and the New Deal. The Court first strikes down and then upholds economic regulation, and begins applying the Bill of Rights to the states.
The questions. As the record frames them.
The constitutional questions this era’s decisions and laws turned on.
- How much can Congress regulate the economy?
- Do the states have to respect the Bill of Rights?
The record. 13 entries, in order.
Every case, amendment and event in Constilumen dated 1921 to 1940.
1924
Indian Citizenship Act
Grants citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. Some states continue to bar Native Americans from voting until 1957.
Source: Library of Congress
1925
Gitlow v. New York
Yes, the conviction stood, but the Court assumed that freedom of speech and press are protected against the states by the Fourteenth Amendment.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1927
Buck v. Bell
Yes. The Court upheld the law; it has not been formally overruled.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1927
Whitney v. California
Yes. Justice Brandeis, concurring, wrote that the remedy for feared speech is “more speech, not enforced silence.”
Source: Opinion of the Court
1931
Near v. Minnesota
No. Prior restraint of publication is unconstitutional except in exceptional cases.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1932
Powell v. Alabama
Yes. In a capital case, due process requires the state to provide effective assistance of counsel.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1933
Twentieth Amendment: Terms of office and succession
Moves the start of presidential terms to January 20 and congressional terms to January 3, and sets rules for when a President-elect dies or fails to qualify.
Source: National Archives
1933
Twenty-first Amendment: Repeal of Prohibition
Repeals the Eighteenth Amendment; states keep the power to regulate the import of alcohol.
Source: National Archives
1935
A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
No. The delegation was unconstitutional, and the poultry business was beyond the commerce power.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1937
West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish
Yes. Liberty of contract is subject to reasonable regulation in the public interest, and an earlier contrary decision was overruled.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1940
Minersville School District v. Gobitis
Yes. National unity was a sufficient interest to require the salute.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1940
Alien Registration Act (Smith Act)
Makes it a crime to advocate the violent overthrow of the government or to belong to a group that does, and requires non-citizen adults to register.
Source: Federal Judicial Center
The language. What stood out in print.
Tracked terms printed most often in 1921–1940 compared with their own average across 1789–2022. A value of 2× means the word appeared twice as often as usual.
- fascism2.6×
- democracy1.2×
- unconstitutional1.2×
- segregation1.2×
- nationalism1.1×
- due process1.1×
Executive orders. Presidencies of the era.
Totals for each full presidency, including years outside the era. Counts before 1945 include unnumbered orders.
| President | Took office | Orders | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren G. Harding | 1921 | 522 | 217 |
| Calvin Coolidge | 1923 | 1,203 | 215 |
| Herbert Hoover | 1929 | 1,003 | 251 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1933 | 3,726 | 307 |
Source: The American Presidency Project. All presidencies