1. Immigration

3. Plymouth Colony 1620-1691 English settlers – Pilgrims – seeking religious freedom "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." — U.S. Constitution

4. 1619 African Arrival in Virginia 20 Africans Transported in a Dutch ship, stolen from a Spanish ship Traded for food, left in Jamestown, VA as servants “Servant” becomes “Slave” in less than a generation – at first justified by religious difference, later by skin color.

5. The Naturalization Act of 1790 First law setting rules for granting of US citizenship (Constitution grants that power to Congress) All “free white persons” of “good character” Excludes: American Indians, slaves, free Blacks and Asians

6. Potato Famine (Ireland, 1845 – 1851) 1 million dead 1 million emigrated Population of Ireland decreased 25% Ireland produced ample food for export – Irish natives couldn’t afford to feed themselves By 1850, the Irish made up a quarter of the population in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

7. Shift in Immigration Old Immigrants (1620 – 1840) Protestants England, Germany, the Netherlands White, fair hair and eyes New Immigrants (1840 – 1920) Irish, Asian, Eastern European, Italian Looked different Catholic, Jewish, many different faiths Led to emergence of “nativist” movements

8. Nativism

9. The Emergency Quota Act (1921) First time numerical limits were placed on immigration Quotas based on ethnicity Each year US would admit no more than 3% of number of residents from that same country already living in the U.S. Maintains the existing ethnic mixture 1920: 805,228 immigrants 1922: 309,556

10. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 Eliminated the national origins quotas of the Emergency Quota Act Created new guidelines Gave preference to family members Skilled laborers Per-country limits Total immigration limit

11. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 Required employers to attest to emplyees’ immigration status Illegal to hire/recruit illegal immigrants Legalized some seasonal agricultural workers Amnesty for 3 million illegal immigrants in the US prior to 1982.