These historical pictures provide visual insight into the life of an immigrant traveling to the United States. They vary between life on the ship and the experiences made while landing at Ellis Island.
EARLY IMMIGRATION IN AMERICA
Immigration populations in America soared during the 1800s and 1900s and diversified the country. The majority of the immigrants were European, but people from all around the globe arrived in the United States during this time.
U.S. History says, "Many would come from Southern and Eastern Europe, and some would come from as far away as Asia. New complexions, new languages, and new religions confronted the already diverse American mosaic."
"USA Immigration History." United States Citizenship, USCitizenship, www.uscitizenship.info/usa-immigration-history/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2017.
Many immigrants went to America in hopes of finding work and opportunities to benefit their families, and as a result of the influx of people from different cultures, America became home to new cultures and perspectives. Immigrants brought kept their culture alive by starting communities revolving around it such as Little Italy and Chinatown.
RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION
As the number of immigrants coming to the United States increased, so did the restrictions. The first important law that was put in place restricting immigration was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This law denied any person of Chinese descent access to America, and lasted for around ten years. Americans feared for the economy, and believed the high unemployment rates were directly caused by the influx of Chinese workers to the country.
Harvard Library Open Collections Program states, "It was enacted in response to economic fears, especially on the West Coast, where native-born Americans attributed unemployment and declining wages to Chinese workers whom they also viewed as racially inferior."
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882). President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2017. Harvard University Library Open Collections Program, ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/exclusion.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2017.
Due to differing current issues and challenges that America faced at a certain time, Congress has made many reforms to immigration policies. These laws include the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Illegal Immigrant Reform and and Immigrant Responsibility of 1996. All of these acts either limited or increased the access immigrants had to the United States, and covered immigrant family reunification to border control.
Immigration populations in America soared during the 1800s and 1900s and diversified the country. The majority of the immigrants were European, but people from all around the globe arrived in the United States during this time.
U.S. History says, "Many would come from Southern and Eastern Europe, and some would come from as far away as Asia. New complexions, new languages, and new religions confronted the already diverse American mosaic."
"USA Immigration History." United States Citizenship, USCitizenship, www.uscitizenship.info/usa-immigration-history/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2017.
Many immigrants went to America in hopes of finding work and opportunities to benefit their families, and as a result of the influx of people from different cultures, America became home to new cultures and perspectives. Immigrants brought kept their culture alive by starting communities revolving around it such as Little Italy and Chinatown.
RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION
As the number of immigrants coming to the United States increased, so did the restrictions. The first important law that was put in place restricting immigration was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This law denied any person of Chinese descent access to America, and lasted for around ten years. Americans feared for the economy, and believed the high unemployment rates were directly caused by the influx of Chinese workers to the country.
Harvard Library Open Collections Program states, "It was enacted in response to economic fears, especially on the West Coast, where native-born Americans attributed unemployment and declining wages to Chinese workers whom they also viewed as racially inferior."
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882). President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2017. Harvard University Library Open Collections Program, ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/exclusion.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2017.
Due to differing current issues and challenges that America faced at a certain time, Congress has made many reforms to immigration policies. These laws include the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Illegal Immigrant Reform and and Immigrant Responsibility of 1996. All of these acts either limited or increased the access immigrants had to the United States, and covered immigrant family reunification to border control.