Transcript US Immigration: past and present

Image: History Alive, p. 371
US Immigration:
past and present
Glenn Sequeira
June 1, 2011
Topic: US Immigration
past and present
• Immigration is the voluntary movement of a group of people from
one country or region to another. Immigration has been a pattern
seen throughout history motivated by a number of reasons: better
opportunities (jobs, education), more civil rights (freedom of speech,
religion), desire to reunite with family, to avoid persecution or
famine, or simply the adventure of living in a place that is new or
exciting.
• Immigration in the United States and in many developed countries is
experiencing a new surge with accompanying stress on the host
country. Numbers of peoples coming in are affecting the economy
and culture of the host country. Additionally the processes of legal
immigration are being bypassed by a large number of people
coming in outside of legal, diplomatic routes.
US Immigration:
past: 1840-1860
•
Immigration in the United States has had several phases. Most recognizably, during
the period prior to the Civil War (1840-1860) the majority of the immigrants were from
Northern and Western Europe. That shifted from 1860-1900 with the inclusion of
many southern Europeans and other non Northern and Western European groups.
Anti immigrant sentiment caused a number of immigration restriction laws that
brought an end to that era’s immigrant growth.
source: History Alive, ch. 26
LAUSD District Assessment #3 Social Studies Grade 8
US Immigration:
present: 2000
•
Current immigration in
the United States and
elsewhere is happening
at a rate that is once
again alarming anti
immigrant feeling. In
addition to the
traditional reasons for
immigrating, many
immigrants find that
political asylum
(freedom from political
persecution or war)
warrants a move out of
their country of origin.
This time the majority
of immigrants are
coming from North
America and Asia.
Source: U.S. Department of
Homeland Security.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.