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First European settlements in Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was the first permanent settlement in the Americas of the British Empire. Among other settlements were Plymouth which was settled by british espacees of religious freedom aboard the famed ship the Mayflower. -
Settlement of the US
The colonial frontier was settled in the period between 1717-1775. The middle colonies were settled finally formaing the thirtheen orginal American colonies. Mostly western european immigrants, and many left europe from religious persecution which created a large christian influnece in the United States from the Quakers and the PResbysterians to Irish catholics and much more. -
Colonia Era of Immigration
The British settlement of Jamestown, Virginia expanded into colonies until the American Revolution of 1775. Considered the longest era of immigration in U.S history in what became known as 'British America' during this time a large number of european caucasains as well as Africans sold into slavery through the middle passage arrived staging what would become the backbone of the American melting pot. -
Spanish Texas
The southwestern portion of the North American continent ( present day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona) were governed by Spain. Before Texas became separate from New Spain, the area was full of settlements and migrants from the Old Spain, as well as a whites who furthered their migrations west and mestizos as well. -
California Gold Rush
The first significant populations Chinese migrations to the U.S. Initially well recieved, The Chinese were the backbone in creating the Transcontinetal railway. -
Third wave of Immigration
Failing econmies , famine, and otherwise dire conditions in Europe as well as the advancement of ships saw a huge income of europeans particularly those of the western nations. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
One of the most restrice laws in regards to immigration in the U.S passed in 1882 as a suspension on Chinese immigration. The lowering sources of gold created looming animosity towards Chinese immigrants and other foriegners eventually leading them to become barred from immigration at all. -
Hawaiian Plantation laborers/ Picture Brides
The first Japanese immigrants arrived in hawaii 1885 as sugarcane and pineapple plantation laborers. Also women from Japan arrived as picture brides, a practice which a matchmaker assigned women to Japanese men in Hawaii through pictures. -
The Gentlemens Agreement
Similar to the Chinese Exclusion act of 1882 an informal agreement between the United States and Japan barred immigration of Japanese nationals to the U.S although less strict than the Chinese Exclusion act, as women were still allowed to come, this was never ratified by congress and overturned in 1924 -
Tydings-McDuffie Act
The indepedence of the nation of Phillipines was stemmed from the US legistlation Tydings McDuffie which allowed Phillipines to become self governed. This created an influx of Filipios to migrate to the US -
Post-War Immigration
After World War II the War Brides Act was instituted to allow foreign born wives of American soldiers to become naturlized citizens and move back with their husbands. -
Operation Wetback
A law enforcement act on immigration to send back immigrants from Mexico and to curve the 'problem' of illegal border crossing, considered controversial as Mexicans whom were deported back were faced abuse. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
An act that penalized employers whom hired illegal immigrant, forcing proof of citizenship and identification although amnesty was given to the many illegal immigrants already working here in the U.S -
DREAM act
legistlation that allows undocumented immigrants to attend post secondary instiutions without consequence of higher tuitions. Several guidelines to qualify include, upstanding character, arrived in the U.S less than 16 years of age and has been living in the US for at least 5 years. -
Arizona SB1070
Arizona created one of the strictest anti- immigration laws in U.S in a long time which allowed officers to pull over people when they have had reasonable that someone was an illegal immigrant to "stop, detain, or arrest" this caused major controversy.
