IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES
The Americas have always been a land of immigrants.
According to most authorities the ancestors of the American Indians, America’s first immigrants,
migrated from Asia thousands of years ago. About 1000 A.D. the Vikings tried to settle in America, but
were driven out by the “Natives”. However, in 1492, a new wave of European immigration to America
began and the Natives were unable to stop it.
From 1492 to the middle part of the 19th century, immigration to America from Europe (and other parts
of the world) continued unrestricted. The earliest laws in the United States restricting immigration
began following the large influx of Irish, Southern and Eastern Europeans, and Chinese in the 1850’s and
1860’s. Concerns were voiced that immigrants were too different, took too long to assimilate, and
threatened the fabric of American society. Immigration from China was virtually outlawed and, by the
end of the 19th century, quotas were placed on the number of immigrants allowed from other places.
Even so, immigration continued at a brisk pace until WWI. At that time, a resurgence of nativism,
wartime fears of foreign spies and communists, and the unemployment problems of the Great
Depression, led to greater restrictions on immigration.
Today legal immigration to the United States is severely restricted. Unless one can prove the need for
political asylum, the process of immigrating legally to the United States can take years and cost
thousands of dollars. The difficulty has caused many, particularly from nearby countries such as Mexico,
to defy the law and try to enter and stay in the U. S. illegally. While many illegal immigrants work hard
and contribute much to society, some become dependent on government programs and/or are part of
gangs, drug trafficking and other criminal activities. These problems, as well as high unemployment and
a fear of foreign terrorists, have led to calls for a tougher immigration policy. The Federal Government,
fearing political repercussions, has mostly failed to act, leading some states, such as Arizona, to enact
their own policies. Immigration has become a very divisive issue for the country.
The Statue of Liberty and Immigration Questions
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Who were the first immigrants to the Americas?
Which group of Europeans was unsuccessful in the attempt to immigrate to America?
When did successful immigration from Europe begin?
Why was immigration restricted in the mid-19th Century?
What additional concerns led to greater restrictions during the 1920’s and 30’s?
Why do people immigrate illegally to the United States?
Where are most of today’s illegal immigrants from?
Why are many people concerned about illegal immigration?
Whose idea was the Statue of Liberty?
Who designed it?
Why did he want it to be so large?
Who built the statue?
Who paid for it?
Which country gave it to us?
Which anniversary of the United States was the statue intended to be completed for?
The designer of the Statue of Liberty had become famous for his statue of which French
historical figure?
Which country rejected his offer of a large, heroic female figure?
Why was the Statue of Liberty made of copper?
According to legend, who were the models for the statue’s face and body?
The designer incorporated symbolism from which fraternal organization into the statue?
Name some famous early Americans who were member s of that organization.
Which part of the statue was finished first?
Why did the pedestal generate such a controversy in the United States?
What were some of the practical problems faced in building and transporting the statue?
Who designed the framework for the statue?
Which construction in France is he famous for?
What was the framework made of?
How did it look and function?
How did author, Victor Hugo, react to the statue?
When was the finished statue given to the United States?
Who designed the pedestal?
Which famous publisher spearheaded the effort to raise funds for the pedestal?
When was the statue, officially, unveiled?
How many women were in attendance at the ceremony?
How did New York Governor, Mario Cuomo, describe his mother’s immigration experience?