Why did most immigrants come to the United States?

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Source

From the book The Making of America, published by National Geographic Society © 2002, National Geographic Books

Immigration is the process of moving to a new country or region with the intention of staying and living there. People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family. The process of immigrating to the United States can be complicated and is often driven by a few key principles including uniting families, boosting the economy with skilled professionals, promoting diversity, and helping refugees.

Learn more about U.S. immigration with this curated resource collection.

Immigrants enter the United States with dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.  Rather than posing a threat to our democracy, they reinforce and enrich the values that make America the country it is.

The United States is a country created and built by immigrants from all over the world. Throughout our history, immigrants seeking a better life have flocked to our shores — reinvigorating our labor force, enriching our cultural fabric, and making our democracy stronger.

Yet even though nearly all Americans are descendants of immigrants, we have often had a tempestuous relationship with newcomers. Whether because of nationalist sentiment, xenophobia, or simply fear of change, our country has at times enacted policies that have run contrary to American ideals. The Chinese Exclusion Act, the 1924 Immigration Act, or quota-based laws restricting immigration from certain parts of the world, are just a few examples of reactionary policies that gained wide support in the past.

Today we are living through a resurgence of these sentiments. At a time of rapid change driven by technology, globalization, and demographics, there are many Americans who are directing their fears toward immigrants, believing that they are changing the culture and values of the United States. We have seen how these fears translate into harmful policies: our politicians are promising to wall off our borders and threatening to deport undocumented immigrants who had been granted protection because they arrived in the United States as children.

At a time of rapid change driven by technology, globalization, and demographics, there are many Americans who are directing their fears toward immigrants, believing that they are changing the culture and values of the United States.

While each successive wave of immigration adds to the unique blend of cultures that define the United States of America, it is wrong to believe that immigrants pose any threat to American values. The truth is that today’s immigrants, just like our forefathers, arrive here seeking the ability to freely worship, to express themselves without fear of government retribution, and to chart their own economic destiny.

These immigrants, for whom the reality of oppression or lack of freedom is a not so distant memory, come not to undermine our values, but to embrace them. What better reaffirmation exists for the strength of our values than the validation we receive daily from people seeking to immigrate here?

Today’s immigrants, just like our forefathers, arrive here seeking the ability to freely worship, to express themselves without fear of government retribution, and to chart their own economic destiny.

It is true that America does not look like what it did in the past. Between 2000-2015, Latinos accounted for more than half of the country’s total population growth.  During that same period, the country’s Asian population grew by 72 percent.

Yet America’s culture has always been a shifting kaleidoscope. What has remained constant is our values – a common belief in liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. This is how, out of many, we become one.

Our diversity also contributes to our economic vitality.  Over half of the startups worth over $1 billion were founded by foreigners. These companies create jobs, promote innovation, and contribute to our country’s economic productivity.

Instead of weakening our values and democracy as some may claim, immigrants enrich and revitalize our institutions and beliefs. While people may arrive as Mexicans, Russians, Ethiopians, or Chinese, over time they and their families become Americans.

Instead of weakening our values and democracy as some may claim, immigrants enrich and revitalize our institutions and beliefs. While people may arrive as Mexicans, Russians, Ethiopians, or Chinese, over time they and their families become Americans.

This does not mean they forget where they came from; rather, it is because of their past that they so passionately embrace American values. It is why after centuries of continued immigration, the United States is stronger than ever.

In today’s divisive political environment, we must learn from the mistakes of our past and not let fear dictate our policies. The only way that our system, based on the foundations of freedom, democracy, and justice, will prevail is if we continue to enrich it by welcoming new stakeholders in the American dream.  

Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to uphold the values of our forefathers. Almost 250 years after our founding, the United States remains the world’s beacon of hope. Let’s not extinguish liberty’s torch.  

Leave your feedback with The Catalyst editors

Carlos Gutierrez Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group; U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 2005-2009

• Previous Article Restoring Trust in Business: One Company at a Time An Essay by Kenneth Hersh, President and CEO at the George W. Bush Presidential Center

• Next Article The Press and Public Trust in an Age of Fake News A Conversation with Keven Willey, Vice President and Editorial Page Editor of The Dallas Morning News, and Olivier Knox, White House Correspondent of Yahoo! News

  Why did most immigrants come to the United States quizlet?

  Immigrants came to the U.S. for religious and political freedom, for economic opportunities, and to escape wars. 2. Immigrants adopted parts of American culture, and Americans adopted parts of immigrants cultures. The foreign-born population of the U.S. nearly doubled between 1870 and 1900.

  When did immigrants come to America the most?

  The fourth wave began after 1965, and has been marked by rising numbers of immigrants from Latin America and Asia. The United States admitted an average 250,000 immigrants a year in the 1950s, 330,000 in the 1960s, 450,000 in the 1970s, 735,000 in the 1980s, and over 1 million a year since the 1990s.

  Why did people want to come to the USA?

  Looking for a better life for themselves and their families, most immigrants have seen America as a promised land. Searching for safety, four million refugees have come to America since World War II.