In 1924, Virginia passed a law allowing sterilization of the "feebleminded." Carrie Buck, a young woman from Virginia, was sterilized under this law, despite her pregnancy resulting from rape and misdiagnosed mental health. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision in the Buck v. Bell case in 1927, stating "Three generations of imbeciles are enough."

This case led to thousands of sterilizations, including 8,300 in Virginia. The German government later used similar laws. In 1942, Skinner v. Oklahoma challenged sterilizations for criminals, but the practice continued until the 1970s. Over 60,000 people were sterilized in 33 states, and the Buck v. Bell decision remains in place today.

In 1917, Congress passed the first major restrictive immigration law, including a literacy test and a ban on most Asian immigrants, except for Japanese and Filipinos. By the 1920s, Congress wanted stricter limits, and Senator William P. Dillingham proposed a quota of three percent based on the 1910 census. This was later reduced to two percent and based on the 1890 census, favoring Western and Northern Europeans while limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

To qualify, most states require you to meet certain conditions, like earning a minimum amount in the past 12-24 months, having steady work history, and looking for a new job.

If you lose your job, COBRA lets you keep your health insurance for a limited time.

Be cautious of unemployment scams where criminals use your personal info to file false claims. Always protect your identity.

By 1943, with the economy improving during World War II, the WPA ended after helping 8.5 million people find work.

Over 110,000 Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps due to fears they might be loyal to Japan. The War Relocation Authority oversaw this process. In 1944, the Supreme Court ruled it was illegal to detain citizens without charges. The camps were eventually closed, and in 1988, the U.S. government apologized and gave reparations to those affected.

The bill provided funding for college, training, and living expenses, benefiting about 8 million veterans. It increased the number of college graduates and helped more people buy homes. However, Black veterans faced discrimination, making it harder for them to access housing benefits.

By 1956, the G.I. Bill had disbursed $14.5 billion, boosting the economy. The program was later extended to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Head Start serves children ages 3-5, while Early Head Start helps children from birth to 3. Programs are available in centers, homes, and child care settings across the U.S. and its territories, aiming to prepare children for school and life.

While the law followed earlier efforts to improve mental health care, it faced problems like limited funding and poor infrastructure. Less than half of the planned 1,500 centers were built, and many didn’t provide proper care for those with serious mental illnesses.

The Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970 also focused on CEQ’s role, and the Clean Air Act allows the EPA to review and refer environmental impact statements to CEQ. The CEQ updates NEPA guidelines and regulations, with the most recent changes coming in 2024.

It offered support for low-income families with housing construction, rehabilitation, and mortgage insurance. The Act also included programs for rural housing, mobile home safety, and home mortgage assistance. It encouraged state agencies to manage housing programs, revitalize communities, and follow environmental standards.

Additionally, the Act allowed HUD to transfer properties for urban homesteading and funded research on energy-efficient housing. It also created the National Institute of Building Sciences to improve housing standards and required buyers to be informed about flood risks.

Although juvenile crime rates are low, the U.S. locks up youth at higher rates than other countries, including those charged with non-criminal offenses. Youth of color are overrepresented at all stages of the system.

You can claim the EITC for up to 3 years after the original tax return due date.

To learn more, check if you qualify, what counts as earned income, and how to claim the credit. Use the EITC Assistant to estimate your credit.