The Literacy Test of 1917 was a part of the bigger, Immigration Act of 1917. While not as direct a ban toward the Chinese or Jewish immigrants it had its roots in eugenics and the desire for a superior group of people. The The Literacy Test of 1917 required all adult immigrants to demonstrate an ability to read and write a short passage of the U.S constitution in their own language. This test discriminated against those who did not have proper education. Not everyone was literate due to the fact that their countries were not fully developed with an education system. It segregated those who could read and write from those who could not read and write. Supporters of the test believed that it would reduce the number of new arrivals, mainly from
