Steel Mill foundries begin to be established in the Calumet region. The United States Steel Corporation aggressively recruits Eastern Europeans to its Gary works.

The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization becomes part of the federal Dept. of Commerce and Labour (1903)

Naturalization Act (1906) - Knowledge of English was made a basic requirement.

Immigration Act of (February 20, 1907) increased the head tax on immigrants, and added people with physical or mental defects or tuberculosis and children unaccompanied by parents to the exclusion list. Japanese immigration became restricted.

World War I

Indiana celebrates its Centennial (1916)

United States Steel in Gary directly recruits black workers from the southern states and from Illinois

Growth of the automobile industry in Indiana

German language instruction is eliminated from the public school system

Calumet region begins this decade as one of the leading industrial centers in North America

Beginning of the Great Depression

Congress passed the Emergency Immigration Act (1921) which set up a very complex quota system based on country of origin

The Immigration Act (May 26, 1924) together with the Immigration Act of 1917, governed American immigration policy until 1952. At the same time, Congress established the Border Patrol in response to the concern with increased illegal movement across the borders with Canada and Mexico.

Community-wide programs promoting forced repatriation of Mexican-born workers underway in the Calumet region

A natural disaster: the Ohio River floods much of southern Indiana (1937)

The Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana organized (1937)

World War II: Hoosiers go to War again

Resurgence in the state's economy-

The overall unemployment rate for African Americans in the entire state declines by over one-half

Under President Roosevelt's Plan, the INS is moved to the Department of Justice (1942)

Chinese exclusion laws were repealed (1943)

Displaced Persons Act (June 25, 1948): The first U.S. policy was adopted for admitting persons fleeing persecution. It permitted 205,000 refugees to enter the United States over two years (later increased to 415,000).