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English Colonists and Cheif Metacom
Metacom meets with English colonists to discuss problems the natives are having. The English colonists try to force traditional English laws of leadership onto the natives. Metacom also says problems including: taking too much land, lying, cheating, and cattle ruined crops. Metacom and his people felt hopeless because there were so many more English than natives and war would be pointless. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6226 -
American Revolution
British immigrants fight for their freedom and rights as Americans. Originally from a different country, the revolutionists chose to come to the new country to start a new life with new opportunities and when the British crown stood in the way, the Americans decided to fight back. This battle was a stand for beliefs and the people were willing to give everything for this new life. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-american-revolution-begins -
Steerage Act of 1819
One of the first census' of immigrants entering the United States was created by captains of ships. The Steerage Act of 1819 was an act that required captains to record passenger records and provide more humane conditions for the men and women coming to the new country. -
Irish Immigration
Due to the massive famine in Ireland, more than a third of the immigration influx into the United States was attributed to the Irish. The first immigrant processed through Ellis Island was an Irish immigrant who traveled two weeks with her two younger brothers. Between 1820 and 1930, about 4.1 million Irish immigrated to the United States. http://www.history.com/topics/u-s-immigration-before-1965 -
German Immigration
Many Germans traveled to the United States in search of safety during riots, rebellion, and revolution. Unlike the Irish, Germans had money when they immigrated here and were able to buy farmland in the Midwest. Although it was still hard for German immigrants, it was particularly harder on them after WWI and WWII started due to stereotypes and unrest from the war in Germany.http://www.ushistory.org/us/25f.asp -
Anti-Immigration Groups: Know Nothing Party
Many of the Irish and German immigrants that settled in the new land were living in poverty. With such an influx of people coming from different places, the American citizens became worried and started parties to fight the mass of immigrants. There were riots in the streets and about 16 people died. The Know Nothing party, a prominent anti-immigration group, fought strongly for a longer, harder process get into the country. http://www.ushistory.org/us/25f.asp -
Chinese Immigration
The Gold Rush brought about 25,000 Chinese immigrants to California in 1850. The promise of easy gold and a happy life lured the Chinese through Angel Island, and they settled primarily along the coast of California. http://www.history.com/topics/u-s-immigration-before-1965 -
Civil War
The Civil War is related to immigration in the United States because all slaves, essentially, were immigrants. These people, although brought here against their will, felt that they had rights and many people stood behind those ideals. The Civil War was fought because people from the North believed the African immigrant slaves deserve the same rights as freed people.
http://www.history.com/topics/u-s-immigration-before-1965 -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Due to a decline of wages in California for American citizens, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 banned Chinese laborers from coming to the United States. Americans were worried of their job security and their lack of jobs in the Gold Rush, and by creating this exclusion act they were able to stop an influx of people in turn creating an even bigger deficit. http://www.history.com/topics/u-s-immigration-before-1965 -
Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 created a quota system that only allowed two percent of every nationality to enter the United States per year. This act was established because of the high influx of Asian immigrants. http://www.history.com/topics/u-s-immigration-before-1965 -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 did away with all of the previous Immigration Act's quotas on nationality entrance into the United States. As a result, a new influx of people entered the United States more steadily. http://www.history.com/topics/u-s-immigration-before-1965 -
New Source of Debate
Between 1980 and 1990, illegal immigration became one of the biggest political topics the country would face. In the period between the Immigration and Nationality Act 1965 and 1990, over 1.4 million Mexican immigrants had made their ways across the United States border. http://www.history.com/topics/us-immigration-since-1965 -
Homeland Security Act of 2002
After September 11, a new act was passed out of fear. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 enabled most of the immigration jobs to be replaced and over-turned many of the immigration supporting laws. http://www.history.com/topics/us-immigration-since-1965 -
Barack Obama
In 2008, the United States elected Barack Obama to be the President. Born of a Kenyan father and American mother, Obama is one of the best examples of immigration the United States has to offer. Being an immigrant's son, Obama is the first African-American president. http://www.history.com/topics/us-immigration-since-1965 -
Illegal Immigration All-Time High
According to a study done in 2009 to 2013 from the Center for Migration Studies and the Pew Research Center approximately 1.5 to 1.7 million aliens joined the illegal population either from over-staying a visa expiration or from visiting illegally.
http://cis.org/2.5-Million-Join-Illegal-Population-under-Obama
