1. Today’s Foreign-Born Population
Today approximately 32.5 million foreign born people are from Latin America
Central America
Mexico
Europeans account for less than 6% foreign born today

2. Early Immigration
In 1790 English immigrants were the dominant group, numerically 60% of the population, socially and politically.
For most of the 1800’s immigration was encouraged and unrestricted. (Growing demand for labor )
Five years for naturalization
Restrictive legislation emerged in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

3. The Anti-Catholic Crusade
Reaction and the anti-immigration movement
Restrictionist movements centered in part on Xenophobia - fear and hatred of outsiders
Xenophobia lead to the emergence of nativism movements and policies
Nativism – beliefs and policies favoring native-born citizens over immigrants

4. Anti-Catholic Movement and Irish Immigration
Push and pull factors behind Irish immigration
Economic deprivation and the potato famine of and the prospect of new economic opportunities.
Anti-Catholic attitudes were brought to the U.S. by early Protestant immigrants
The role of Samuel Morse

5. Anti-Chinese Movement
For the most part Chinese immigration began in the 1850’s
Function of a combination of push and pull factors
Poverty and over population in China
West and economic opportunities
Sojourn with the intent of returning to China

6. Anti-Chinese Movement
Chinese immigrants played a vital role in the development of the economy in the West
Worked in the mines
Agriculture
Railroad

7. Anti-Chinese Movement
Sinophobia - fear and hatred of the Chinese
Bearers of disease
Competition for jobs and the rise of Sinophobia
Used by employers as strike breakers

8. Anti-Chinese Movement
Chinese exclusion act of 1882 and its expansion until around WWII
Chinese exclusion act and its impact on immigration and the Chinese community
Decline in legal immigration
Dramatically effected the structure of the Chinese community and family

9. Restrictionist Sentiment Increases
The extension of restrictions from the the anti-Asian movement to European nationalities
1908 – The Gentleman’s Agreement was signed
Dillingham commission report of 1911
Two types of immigrants: old and new
New immigrants were seen as a threat to democracy and the American way of life

10. Restrictionist Sentiment Increases
Immigration bill and the literacy test of (Passed over the veto of President Wilson)
National Origins system established quotas based on the percent of each (Nationality) ethnic group from the 1910 census
Favored immigrants from Northern Europe
Immigration from Western Hemisphere remained unrestricted

11. The National Origin System
Favored Northern and Western European immigrants over Southern and Eastern European immigrants
Quotas went unfilled and immigration dropped
Backlog in other countries
Shaped the ethnic landscape of America

12. Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965
Purpose of the act was to reunite families and tied immigration to the needs of the economy
Rules for naturalization
18 years of age
resident for five years
good moral character
ability to read and write
pass a test in U.S. government and history

13. Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965
In 2001 and 2002, 1,060,000 were admitted for the following reasons:
Family unification
Spouses
Relatives of citizens and legal residents
Employment based
Refugees

14. Contemporary Concerns
Brain drain - the immigration of human capital from developing countries to the United States
H-1B visas- work permits to highly skilled immigrants
Economic and social cost on developing countries

15. Contemporary Concerns
Population growth-immigration will add to the growing population of the United States
Illegal immigration
Immigration and Reform Act of 1986
Economic impact and the restriction of government benefits

17. The Global Economy and Immigration
Globalization – and the emergence of transnationals
Refugees – fleeing political persecution and death
Controversy over determining refugee status
Economic
Political
Asylum movement and program