Changes

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.  After 1890, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans entered the United States illegally and were given the racist name of "wetbacks".  Segregation of Mexicans in the public schools was common until the Supreme Court abolished it for African-Americans in Brown v. Board of Education (1954).   

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 of Mexicans in the public schools 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 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.

: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.   

The large 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.

Just after the end of World War II, in 1946, immigration from India was allowed up to an annual quota, and in 1952 immigration from Asia was allowed again for the first time since 1917.

Just after the end of World War II, in 1946, immigration from India was allowed up to an annual quota, and in 1952 immigration from Asia was allowed again for the first time since 1917.

In 1965 the Immigration and Nationality Act abolished quotas for each foreign country and instead established an overall limit on visas for immigrants in the eastern hemisphere, and in 1968 a limit on visas from the western hemisphere was also established on a first-come, first-serve basis.

When Democrats controlled the presidency and Congress under the Lyndon Johnson Administration, in 1965 the Immigration and Nationality Act abolished quotas for each foreign country, and opened the floodgates to immigration again, in amendments to the Immigration and Naturalization Act.  This new law established visa limits for needs of family (such as nannies) and employment, while exempting spouses, parents and minor children of American citizens.  Many foreign workers, most notably in India and other parts of Asia, then immigrated to fill jobs, many in engineering fields.

Illegal immigration from Mexico grew in the early 1980s and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 allowed most illegal aliens who resided in the U.S. continuously since 1982 to apply for legal status.  Employers were prohibited from hiring illegal aliens, in order to discourage future illegal immigration.

Six percent of visas were for refugees. The Refugee Act of 1980 then expanded the definition of a refugee, and separated refugee admissions from the overall quota system.

Court decisions made it difficult or impossible for States to deny government benefits (such as free public education) to illegal immigrants.  Accordingly, their entry into the United States continued to grow.  Estimates are that 10-20 million people now live in the United States illegally, most having arrived by crossing the United States-Mexico border but not all of whom are Mexican.  Congress is bitterly divided about how to address this, and some propose building a wall along that border.

 

 

Court decisions made it difficult or impossible for States to deny government benefits (such as free public education) to illegal immigrants.  Accordingly, their entry into the United States continued to grow.  Estimates are that 20 million people now live in the United States illegally, most having arrived by crossing the United States-Mexico border but not all of whom are Mexican.  Congress is bitterly divided about how to address this, and President Trump campaigned to build a wall along that border.

'''Debate:  What is your view of immigration?'''

'''Debate:  What is your view of immigration?'''