History of U.S. Immigration

Immigration: The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country

“Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,Send these, the homeless, the tempest-tost to meI lift my lamp beside the golden door!” - Emma

Larsarus

U.S. had less than 60 million people Unsettled land in West and Midwest Huge demand for farmers and factory

workers Since 1820, 65 million immigrants had

entered U.S. – 40 percent of those between 1881 and 1920

Statue of Liberty 1886

graph

More than 300 million people in AmericaDebate: Do we have room? vs. we need newcomers

skill and energy

9/11 and national security issues have now come into play

Bottom line: U.S. accepts more immigrants than any other country

2015

Constitution: says immigration and citizenship issues are to be determined by Congress

Not until 1868 was citizenship granted to anyone born in U.S. (14th amendment)

One exception: Native Americans not granted full citizenship until 1924

History

U.S. needed workers and had plenty of land – Europe had too many people and lots of problems (potato famine, lack of jobs, etc…)

1st Key POINT: People don’t immigrate for no reason(PUSH and PULL), Most often it’s because of economic opportunity

Most immigrants between 1820 and 1880 were from Great Britain, Germany, and Ireland.

1800s

2nd KEY POINT: ALL IMMIGRANTS IN U.S. HISTORY WERE HATED ON

One of the first groups people hated were Irish - They were mainly Catholic when most Americans were Protestant

Most immigrants from Eastern Europe - Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia

1881-1920

Congress passes the first law restricting immigration with the 1862 law forbidding American vessels to transport Chinese immigrants to the U.S.

1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in order to prevent an excess of cheap labor in the U.S. and provided the deportation of those who were adjudged illegal residents.

History of Immigration Laws

The act froze the population of the Chinese community leaving its sex ratio highly imbalanced. For more than half a century, the Chinese lived in an essentially bachelor society where old men always outnumbered the young.

1819 US begins to count immigrants Outlaws prostitutes and convicts Chinese Exclusion Act: Nobody who is a “lunatic or

Idiot” can come to America. A Tax is instituted. 1906- Knowledge of English required 1907- those with physical or mental illness may not

come. Japanese immigrants are restricted Immigration Act of 1917- anybody older than 16

who could not read English may not enter. Except those who have been religiously persecuted. All Asian immigrants are banned

U.S. Immigration Timeline

1921 A quota system, the maximum number of persons admitted into a nation, was first introduced in 1924 The quota system was changed in 1924 and was based on the desirability of various nationalities. For example, immigrants from northern and western Europe (aka WHITE) were consider much more desirable than those of southern and eastern Europe and more adapt to "fit in." Consequently, countries like Great Britain, Germany, and Ireland were given generous quotas, while nations like Russia, the source of most Jewish immigrants, and Italy were cut back. Almost all Asians were excluded from the U.S.

1943 China becomes allies with the U.S. during World War II, which paved the way for the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. As immigration from China resumed, mostly female immigrants came, many, wives of Chinese men in the U.S. Many couples were reunited after decades apart.

1945 The War Brides Act, a federal law passed in 1945,

authorizes the limited admission of the wives and children of citizens honorably discharged or serving in the U.S. armed forces during World War II, without regard to quotas or other standards

1948 The Displaced Persons Act of 1948 permits, before July 1 of 1950, the immigration to the U.S. of 202,000 European displaced persons, people driven form their homes in the years preceding World War II as a result of political or racial persecution and those forcibly transported form their homes during World War II

Most displaced refugees came from Cuba (700,000) in the 1960s

1952 The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 incorporates

most of the existing laws relating to immigration including two major changes: the Asiatic Barred Zone which banned most Asian immigrants since 1917 was abolished and people from all nations are given the opportunity to enter the U.S.- However still quotas

As late as the 1950s, 68% of immigrants still came from Canada and Europe (meaning White)

1965 set up a preference system - easier to come if professional (doctors, nurses, engineers, scientists, etc…) – Opened up doors to Asian immigration

Also allowed newcomers to bring their families

1965 Act

More people coming than ever: rules were that no more than 20,000 per country and 290,000 total per year

Still people were coming as refugees or as illegal aliens

Mexican immigrants faced a wait of more than 6 years to have their applications processed

1970s

Refugees, asylum seekers, and illegal aliens along with legal immigration

Pluses: In the 1990s 1.6 million college educated immigrants joined the work force, 50% from Asia

Minuses: $ on schooling, health care, social services

Last 20 years

Refugee Act of 1980 – trying to help 400,000 refugees from South East Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines)

1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act – punishes employers who hire illegal's knowingly, gave amnesty to those who had been in U.S. for 5 years

Immigration Act of 1990 – Raised limit from 290,000 to 675,000 per year. 71% of visas to family, 21% well trained workers, 8% for those who have been waiting a while

Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act – made it easier to deport illegal's – critics say it gave to much power to INS and not enough rights to those accused

Recent Laws

http://www.choices.edu/resources/scholars_immigration_lesson.php

  “The bosom of America is open to receive

not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the poor, oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions. Whom we shall welcome to a participation of our rights and privileges.” –George Washington 1783

Question 1--What does this statement mean? Explain…

Question 2--Do you think most Americans would agree with this statement today? Explain…

Question 3--Do you? Explain…

Progressive Immigration Notes

1819 US begins to count immigrants Outlaws prostitutes and convicts Chinese Exclusion Act: Nobody who is a “lunatic or

Idiot” can come to America. A Tax is instituted. 1906- Knowledge of English required 1907- those with physical or mental illness may not

come. Japanese immigrants are restricted Immigration Act of 1917- anybody older than 16

who could not read English may not enter. Except those who have been religiously persecuted. All Asian immigrants are banned

U.S. Immigration Timeline

Prior to 1880 most immigrants were of Western European descent. (England, France, Germany etc…)

During the progressive ere most came from South and Eastern Europe (Italy, Poland, Russia etc…)

1. 25 million immigrants during the progressive era

2. Most were Jewish or catholic 3. Most were poor and uneducated 4. Received a lot of harassment because they were  

Who came to America

Most immigrants went to the big cities wouldn’t stick out jobs other people with their background lived in slums called “Tenements” Cities population increased by 700% 16 cities had a population of 50,000 in

1860. By 1910 over a hundred cities could make this claim.

Where did the immigrants go?

Two main reason: Push reasons and Pull reasons

Push reasons are things that make a person leave their country.

War Famine Unemployment Pull Reasons are things that draw people to the

country they are going. freedom economic opportunity

Why were the immigrants coming

 Muckrakers Jacob Riis- How the Other Half Lives Josiah Strong- Our Country Jane Adams- Immigrant educationFlorence Kelly- Child Labor and Settlement Houses

 

Progressive Solutions