United States and Immigration History: Laws and Key Moments

Introduction

From colonial settlers seeking freedom to modern-day migrants pursuing opportunity, the United States has always been shaped by immigration. These movements brought new cultures, skills, and perspectives—fueling the nation’s growth and redefining what it means to be American.

This article explores the key periods and policies that defined the United States and immigration history. You’ll discover who came, why they came, and how their stories helped form the diverse and dynamic identity of the U.S. we know today.

The United States and Immigration History: Key Periods and Waves

During its history, the United States experienced wave after wave of immigration, each of which brought their own benefits as well as challenges. The very first wave occurred during the colonial period, which lasted from 1607 to 1776. This wave saw a large-scale immigration from Britain, the Netherlands, and Germany to the United States.

This was followed by two major waves that lasted from the beginning of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century, and then by the post-World War II wave that lasted from 1945 to 1965.

By the end of this wave, a new chapter began in the history of immigration in the U.S.—a period that continues today, marked by alternating phases of restriction and openness.

European Immigration in the 1800s

History of migration in the U.S. witnessed two main waves of European immigrants during the 19th century. The first (1820-1880) saw a huge number of immigrants from Western Europe, especially the Irish (2.8 million) and Germans (around 1.5 million).

In the second wave (1880-1920), the immigration movement saw a demographic change with millions came to the U.S. from southern and eastern Europe, including Italians (around 4 million), Poles, Russians, and Jews.

Seeing millions flooding the U.S., especially in the late 19th century, many people began to view immigrants as a threat to their jobs and social structure. From this point, anti-immigration movements emerged, such as the Know-Nothing Party in the 1850s, which targeted Irish Catholics in particular.

By the end of the century, the United States began to impose restrictions on immigration, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which indirectly affected policies for accepting Europeans.

Reasons for Immigration to America in the 1800s

Economic and social conditions in Europe during the 19th century were among the most significant factors driving immigration. These circumstances played a critical role in shaping the United States and immigration history, as millions of Europeans fled instability and hardship in search of better opportunities.

In Ireland, the potato famine (1845-1852) caused the deaths of over a million people and the emigration of millions more to America to escape hunger and poverty.

In Germany, political unrest, such as the revolutions of 1848, led to the emigration of many intellectuals and liberals who sought political freedom.

Countries such as Italy, Poland, and Russia also experienced economic pressures, including poverty and a lack of agricultural land, which led peasants and workers to seek jobs in the United States.

As we can see, There were many reasons that drove people to leave Europe to the U.S., we can sum them up as follows:

• The rise of machines: The industrial boom in places like Britain and Germany put many small farmers and craftsmen out of work.
• Discrimination and oppression: Religious and ethnic minorities, like the Jews in Eastern Europe, faced serious mistreatment and violence.
• Political crackdowns: The 1848 revolutions across Europe caused chaos and political crackdowns which led many to leave, seeking freedom and security in America.
• Ireland’s famine: It is one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century, as it killed over a million people. This led more than two million to leave, and a huge number of them settled in the United States.
• The promise of America: For many Europeans, the U.S. was seen as a land of freedom, opportunity, and equality. People imagined a place with open land, steady work, and no kings or strict class systems.

When Did the U.S. Start Regulating Immigration?

Despite the fact that the United States was founded in the late 18th century as a nation with an identity of struggle against European tyranny, and raised its famous slogan, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” this tolerant view of immigration didn’t last for long.

Throughout the first half of the 19th century, there was no real federal law regulating who was allowed to enter the country and who was not, and the borders were effectively open. But with the economic and social changes that the United States experienced after the Civil War, signs of national concern began to emerge about the new immigrants, their size, and their impact on the country’s social, economic, and cultural structure. This moment marked a pivotal shift in the United States and immigration history, as the federal government began to intervene explicitly and systematically for the first time to regulate immigration.

The 1875 law, also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, was the first federal legislation to formally regulate immigration. Although it did not apply to all nationalities, it established a new principle: that the state had the right to choose who was allowed to enter, based on moral, racial, and economic criteria.

Who Were the First Immigrants to America and Why Did They Come

When we talk about the beginnings of immigration history to the United States, Europeans are considered the first actual immigrants to this land. Since the early 17th century, Europeans began arriving on American shores with economic ambitions, religious aspirations, and hopes for a new life away from the wars and persecution of the Old Continent.

The English were among the first, founding the Jamestown colony in Virginia in 1607 for commercial purposes. They were followed in 1620 by a group of Puritan pilgrims who fled religious persecution in England and founded the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. These settlers formed the nucleus of the English Protestant community that later became the cornerstone of the political and cultural identity of the United States.

But the English were not alone; Dutch immigrants also arrived and founded the colony of New Amsterdam (later New York), while Swedish and French immigrants left their mark on various parts of the east coast.

The Economic and Cultural Impact of Immigration on U.S. History

Immigration has always been a fundamental pillar in the formation and development of the United States.
Economically, immigrants have played a vital role in building infrastructure, growing farms and factories, and fueling industrial progress.

Culturally, immigration introduced new languages, cuisines, music, and traditions that helped shape everyday life in American cities and towns. Over time, this blending of cultures contributed to the idea of the United States as a “melting pot,” where people from different backgrounds live and interact within a shared national framework.
However, this process of integration is not always easy. Many newcomers struggle with language barriers, discrimination, and cultural adaptation. You can learn more in our article on Assimilation Problems Faced by Immigrants.

Immigration Laws and Policy Changes

Over the past few decades, U.S. immigration laws and policies have reflected a constant tension between preserving the nation’s identity as a “country of immigrants” and addressing concerns related to national security and economic pressures. This has led to frequent shifts in approach—ranging from strict quotas to more inclusive systems prioritizing family reunification and skilled labor, and later to heightened security measures in response to global events like terrorism and economic crises.
For a detailed timeline of major immigration policy changes, see the Migration Policy Institute’s federal immigration chronology.

Some of the most influential laws that have shaped immigration to the U.S. in modern history include:

Immigration and Nationality Act (Hart-Carter) 1965

m that had heavily favored Northern and Western Europeans. Instead, it prioritized family reunification, skilled workers, and refugees. This law led to a major shift in immigration patterns, opening the door to significantly more arrivals from Asia and Latin America—especially from countries like India, China, the Philippines, and South Korea.
It marked a critical turning point in the United States and immigration history, reshaping the demographic makeup of the country for decades to come.

Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986

This legislation granted legal status—or “amnesty”—to around 2.7 million undocumented immigrants who had entered the U.S. before January 1, 1982. While the amnesty temporarily slowed irregular migration, it didn’t fully stop it.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), 2012

Announced by President Obama on June 15, 2012, DACA provided temporary protection from deportation and renewable work permits to undocumented individuals who had arrived in the U.S. as children (before age 16) and were under 31 years old in 2012. The policy offered more than 700,000 young people—commonly known as “Dreamers”—a degree of stability, allowing them to continue their education and employment.

Immigration Policy Shifts: 2017–2025

Between 2017 and 2025, immigration policy in the U.S. experienced dramatic swings—starting with strict crackdowns during the Trump administration, followed by partial rollbacks under Biden, and eventually leading to renewed restrictions and legal battles in Trump’s second term.
To see how these policy changes reflected in real numbers and migration trends, explore our article on Immigration into the United States by Year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: When did immigration to the U.S. truly begin?
European settlers, starting with the English in 1607, were the first major immigrant groups to establish colonies in North America. This marked the earliest chapter in the United States and immigration history.

What does the history of migration in the US reveal about American society?
The history of migration in the US highlights how shifting political, economic, and humanitarian factors have influenced the country’s openness and response to newcomers, reflecting deeper values about opportunity, identity, and national priorities.

Why is the history of immigration in the United States important?
Understanding the history of immigration in the United States helps us see how waves of newcomers shaped the country’s economy, culture, and policies.

How did U.S. immigration laws change after 1965?

The 1965 Hart-Celler Act ended ethnic quotas and prioritized family reunification, skilled labor, and humanitarian needs.

Conclusion

The history of immigration in the United States is marked by cycles of welcome and restriction, hope and hardship. Immigrants have helped shape the nation’s strength, diversity, and resilience. As global migration continues to evolve, so does the need for understanding, communication, and access.

Whether you’re navigating official documents, legal processes, or integration support, language should never be a barrier. At ClickTrans, we provide accurate and culturally sensitive translation services to help immigrants, professionals, and institutions communicate with clarity and confidence.

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