Changes

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.

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), to supervise lawful immigration (it has been renamed as the "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services", or USCIS).  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. From 1890 through 1917, immigration was mostly from central and southern Europe, and also many from Eastern Europe:

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: