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== Immigration ==

== Immigration ==

Immigration was free and unlimited for most of our history.  William Penn actually advertised in Germany for immigrants to settle in his colony of Pennsylvania in the late 1600s.  There was some hostility to immigrants in the early United States, as illustrated by the "Alien and Sedition Laws" (1798) which authorized the deportation of subversive "aliens" or immigrants who had not yet become citizens.  The law was inspired by a feeling that most immigrants were becoming Democratic-Republican Party members, and their political opponents (the Federalist Party) passed the law.

 

Immigration was free and unlimited for most of our history.  William Penn actually advertised in Germany for immigrants to settle in his colony of Pennsylvania in the late 1600s.  There was some hostility to immigrants in the early United States, as illustrated by the "Alien and Sedition Laws" (1798) which authorized the deportation of subversive "aliens" or immigrants who had not yet become citizens.  The law was inspired by a feeling that most immigrants were becoming Democratic-Republican Party members, and so the Federalist Party passed the law.

Nevertheless, up until the 1850s immigration was mostly welcomed in America.  But after a huge influx of immigrants from Ireland due to the potato famine there, in 1854 the "American Party," also called the “Know-Nothings” because of how they would describe themselves, was founded in order to oppose immigration.  Ever since, there has been political pressure to limit immigration.

Nevertheless, up until the 1850s immigration was mostly welcomed in America.  But after a huge influx of immigrants from Ireland due to the potato famine there, in 1854 the "American Party," also called the “Know-Nothings” because of how they would describe themselves, was founded in order to oppose immigration.  Ever since, there has been political pressure to limit immigration.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ended the Mexican War and allowed Mexicans residing in territories acquired by the United States to become American citizens.  However, segregation in the public schools of Mexicans was common until the Supreme Court abolished it for African-Americans in Brown v. Board of Education (1954).  After 1890, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans entered the United States illegally and were given the racist name of "wetbacks".

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ended the Mexican War and allowed Mexicans residing in territories acquired by the United States to become American citizens.  After 1890, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans entered the United States illegally and were given the racist name of "wetbacks".  Segregation in the public schools of Mexicans was common until the Supreme Court abolished it for African-Americans in Brown v. Board of Education (1954).   

The big flood of immigration occurred between the end of the Civil War and 1921.  Up to one-third of Americans today are decedents of immigrations to America during that period.  The vast majority was from Europe, but the Burlingame Treaty with China in 1868 gave Chinese unlimited rights to immigrate, and many did.  Labor unions then complained about the influx of Chinese immigrants (who had built the transcontinental railroad over the Sierra Nevada mountains).  In 1879, the moderate Republican Rutherford Hayes vetoed a bill restricting Chinese immigration, but three years later the new Republican president Chester Arthur signed a bill prohibiting the immigration of Chinese laborers.  This bill was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

The big flood of immigration occurred between the end of the Civil War and 1921.  Up to one-third of Americans today are decedents of immigrants to America during that period.  The vast majority was from Europe, but the Burlingame Treaty with China in 1868 gave Chinese unlimited rights to immigrate, and many did.  Labor unions then complained about the influx of Chinese immigrants (who had built the transcontinental railroad over the Sierra Nevada mountains).  In 1879, the moderate Republican Rutherford Hayes vetoed a bill restricting Chinese immigration, but three years later the new Republican president Chester Arthur signed a bill prohibiting the immigration of Chinese laborers.  This bill was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

In 1891 the federal government established the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which supervises lawful immigration to this day.  In 1892, INS established Ellis Island in New York harbor as the primary screening point for legal immigrants before they settled in the United States.  Medical tests and oaths of allegiance to the United States were administered there.

In 1891 the federal government established the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which supervises lawful immigration to this day.  In 1892, INS established Ellis Island in New York harbor as the primary screening point for legal immigrants before they settled in the United States.  Medical tests and oaths of allegiance to the United States were administered there.

The high point of lawful immigration to the United States was 1905-14, when more than a million legal immigrants entered in each of six separate years.  Most were from southern and central Europe. By origin the percentage of immigration to the United States from 1890 to 1917 was:

The high point of lawful immigration to the United States was 1905-14, when more than a million legal immigrants entered in each of six separate years.  Most were from southern and central Europe. From 1890 through 1917, immigration was mostly from central and southern Europe, and also many from Eastern Europe:

:Central, Southern and Eastern Europe – 70%

:Central, Southern and Eastern Europe – 70%

:Asia – 3%

:Asia – 3%

The very high percentage of immigration from European countries other than England and Ireland caused alarm among many Americans of English descent.  By the 1920s, the United States was increasingly concerned about anarchists and communists entering from southern and eastern Europe.  Recall that President McKinley was assassinated in 1901 by an anarchist whose family had immigrated from Eastern Europe, and the American trial of anarchists from Italy named Sacco and Vanzetti for senseless murders had gripped our nation in 1920-21 and during the lengthy appeals afterward.  The Red Scare of 1919-20 further alarmed Americans about immigration from Eastern Europe.  After the great wave of immigration leading up to World War I, Americans wanted to limit it.   

 

That very high percentage of immigration from European countries other than England and Ireland caused alarm among many Americans of English descent.  By the 1920s, the United States was increasingly concerned about anarchists and communists entering from southern and eastern Europe.  Recall that President McKinley was assassinated in 1901 by an anarchist whose family had immigrated from Eastern Europe, and the American trial of anarchists from Italy named Sacco and Vanzetti for senseless murders had gripped our nation in 1920-21 and during the lengthy appeals afterward.  The Red Scare of 1919-20 further alarmed Americans about immigration from Eastern Europe.  After the great wave of immigration leading up to World War I, Americans wanted to limit it.   

The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 limited immigration to 3% of that originating country's immigration levels in 1910.  This had the effect of favoring immigration from Anglo-Saxons (Britain) and northern Europe, which were more Protestant.  This reflected the opposition to immigration from parts of Europe that were more Catholic and Jewish.

The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 limited immigration to 3% of that originating country's immigration levels in 1910.  This had the effect of favoring immigration from Anglo-Saxons (Britain) and northern Europe, which were more Protestant.  This reflected the opposition to immigration from parts of Europe that were more Catholic and Jewish.