2. America as a country of immigrants. Change of immigration patterns throughout history.

The USA is a nation of immigrants, there were several waves of immigration: early immigrants (1500s, 1600s, 1700s) In the 16th century Spain took control of Florida, California and the south-west region of America. About 200,000 Spaniards migrated to the new world and founded some 200 settlements in the Americas. In the 16th century English explorers were sent to the New World to seek a passage to the Indies. By the 17th and 18th centuries French settlements – around the Great lakes and the upper Mississippi River, and at New Orleans. Spanish – in Florida, the Southwest and California,British – in New England and the South, Russian – on the west Coast, Swedish and Dutch – on the East Coast, Scots, welsh, Irish, Germans, Finns, Greeks and Italians as well as Maya, Aztec and African slaves. old immigrants (1840-1880) Irish 5.5 million–mostly single men and women, ill equipped for coping with industrialization–unskilled/domestic workers, German -- arrived in family units, arrived with money, skills–became farmer, shopkeepers. Chinese and Japanese -- 322,000 arrived between 1850-1882, males between 14-35– “Coolie” (носильщик)б railroad construction –worked 6-8yrs. and returned to China, widespread racist belief that they could never assimilate in to American life. Mexican - built railroads in Los Angeles/agricultural workers. Reasons they came: 1. Seeking new life because of economic opportunities, poverty or harsh living conditions in the homeland Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Southern Italy, Japan. 2. Seeking political or religious asylum Irish, Russian Jews, Revolutions in Mexico 3. Seeking temporary labor market Chinese, Italian open door immigration policy (late 1800s-1920), restriction on immigration (1920) In 1921 and 1924 Congress mandated a quota system for immigration. 80 percent of the 150,000 annual visas – to immigrants from Western Europe, 30,000 – from other countries. The Great Depression of the 1930s sharpened feelings against foreigners. More people emigrated from the US than arrived during the 1930s – negative migration. Anti-Semitism in the early 20th century. During the 1920s – limited immigration from countries with large numbers of Jewish emigrants. Colleges, professional schools, business barred Jews. 102,000 Jewish refugees escaping Nazi Germany were admitted to the USA before World War II (1939-1945), but many more were refused entrance.Russians, Czechs, Belorussians, Cubans, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Iranians, and others.Racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, anti-Catholic sentiment and other forms of discrimination became less acceptable at the end of the 20th century. Because of changes in the US immigration law and in economic and political conditions worldwide the number of immigrants to America resurged in the last quarter of the 20th century. , Refugee Act (1980) The Refugee Act is a 1980 United States federal law that reformed United States immigration law and admitted refugees on systematic basis for humanitarian reasons. Report to the Congress is written detailing new circumstances involving refugees worldwide, and determining the new annual ceiling of refugees resettling in the United States. New immigration (1980-present)