Introduction
People have immigrated since the beginning of time, but until a few centuries ago, it was not a worldwide phenomenon. The history of immigration dates back to the rudiments of civilization, which makes one wonder if nationalities even matter because the roots might have been mixed long ago. Even though migration seems not too massive these days, it may be called “patchy” for some reasons, which will be disclosed below.
Colonization (1607-1776)
To analyze current trends, it is vital to investigate how immigration has developed over the centuries. The first prosperous English colony was founded in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607 (Krull, 2020). Numerous plantations were built around the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Maryland after tobacco became a lucrative cash crop.
It was the first and longest era of immigration, which lasted until the American Revolution of 1775 (Daniels, 2019). The U.S. was populated by immigrants from Northern Europe, mostly of British, German, and Dutch origin. Hence, it caused religious discord among Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Anglicans. It was a matter of time to let each direction profess their faith.
The New Nation (1783-1815)
Colonization time was followed by the “New Nation” migration period. It was marked by the Treaty of Paris, which the American colonies and Great Britain signed on September 3, 1783 (Krull, 2020). The active growth of the Midwest and the creation of a port in New York might be considered the primary causes of the second wave of immigration to the United States. The economy in the United States was also improving since new workers were needed to keep up with the industry’s rapid growth. Whole communities from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Bohemia, and Germany found new homes in the Midwest, which by the middle of the 19th century had emerged as the world’s most fertile region.
Mass Immigration (1815-1860)
The second great wave of migration occurred between the first and last decades of the 19th century. Over 15 million new people from various European nations immigrated to the United States during this time (Krull, 2020). At that time, many immigrants came from donor nations, including Germany, Sweden, Poland, France, Italy, England, and Ireland. Additionally, a wave of Mexican immigrants flooded the southern states, and Canadians started to relocate north.
The “New” Immigration (1860-1914)
The next wave is characterized by new sources of migration and the constant improvement of means of movement across the oceans. Italy, Greece, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and other countries were the sources of migration. Over 25 million people moved from Europe to the United States (Daniels, 2019). It was one of the largest waves of migration since the colonization of America.
Industrial Immigration (1865 – 1920)
The 1920s-era Immigration Restriction Law did not cover Western Hemisphere nations. Until 1965, several states had been overwhelmed by immigrants from the Caribbean, Mexico, and other South American nations (Daniels, 2019). A significant shift in immigration law occurred in 1965 (Daniels, 2019).
The Hart-Seller Law fundamentally altered the foundations of nationality-based quotas. Immigrants with the proper talents were welcomed in the United States. Additionally, immigrants with families living in the country were preferred. Throughout the 20th century, the number of Americans who lived there was continuously supplemented by immigrants from the USSR and Russia.
“New immigration” was a term coined in the late 1880s to describe the influx of Catholic and Jewish immigrants from Europe. Activists feared that the newcomers lacked the political and professional skills necessary for successful assimilation into American culture. This raised the question of whether the U.S. was still a “melting pot” or whether many old-time Americans were worried about the negative consequences for the economy, politics, and culture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, considering the U.S.’s long history, its government strengthened its policies for the country’s entrants. Currently, it can be viewed as “patchy” because the U.S. accepts a limited number of migrants, specifically talented ones, from different parts of the world. Mass immigration resulted in prejudiced opinions about individuals from other countries. Thus, the country is now more attentive to its new possible citizens.
References
Daniels, R. (2019). Coming to America (second edition): A history of immigration and ethnicity in American life. HarperCollins.
Krull, K. (2020). American immigration: Our history, our stories. HarperCollins Publishers.