Non-fiction: Immigration
Immigration
The United States of America has long been the world’s chief receiving
nation for immigrants. An immigrant is a person who leaves his/her country to
settle and remain in a new country. Over the years, many millions of people
have uprooted and left family and friends to move to America. Some felt forced to
come because they feared for their lives. Their countries were at war or they
didn’t have the freedom to say and practice their faith. Most, however, came for a
better life. Their countries didn’t have work or they were starving because there
wasn’t enough food. Whatever the reason, immigrants in history gave up
everything they had to take a chance on a new world and a new life.
The United States has seen four waves of immigration throughout its
history. The first period was from the 1600s through 1775. This group included
the first colonists and settlers of the United States. Most of these immigrants
were from England. Others arrived from France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and
Spain. Many of these colonists came here looking for economic opportunity.
They wanted better land to farm or better work. Others came to escape religious
persecution.1 Some were even convicts2 transported from English jails. This
first wave also included West Africans that came to America against their will.
They were captured, sold into slavery and shipped to the United States.
A second wave of American immigration took place from 1820-1870.
Over seven million people made the voyage to America, mostly from northern
and western Europe. About a third of these immigrants were Irish people trying to
1
persecution – the act of continually treating someone cruelly and unfairly
2
convicts – persons serving a prison sentence
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Non-fiction: Immigration
escape a famine3 that struck their country in the mid-1840s. Almost a third was
German. The Chinese also began to immigrate during this time. They got word of
a Gold Rush in California. They came to work in the mines and get rich.
This flood of immigrants wasn’t always welcome by those already in
America. Some feared these newcomers would take away their jobs. Others
didn’t like the politics or customs and religions the new immigrants brought with
them. For example, many Irish were discriminated4 against for being Roman
Catholic. The Chinese also suffered greatly from discrimination.
A growing number of people demanded laws to make it harder for
foreigners to become American citizens. In 1875, Congress passed its first
immigration law. It kept undesirables out, such as convicts. In 1882, Congress
also passed the Chinese Exclusion5 Act. It prohibited Chinese workers from
coming to the United States. A few years later, other laws were passed. One
required adult immigrants be able to read and write. Another limited the number
of immigrants from countries outside the Western Hemisphere. In 1965, a law
was passed ending these limits based on nationality.
The third wave of US immigration was by far the greatest. Over 23 million
people immigrated to the United States between 1881 and 1920. These new
Americans came from countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. Once the
Great Depression hit in 1930, however, immigration took a sharp decline. There
were actually more people leaving America than coming to America during this
time.
3
famine – a serious lack of food in a place
4
discriminated – treated differently or unfairly because of a person’s race, age, or gender
5
exclusion – the state of being kept out or shut out
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Non-fiction: Immigration
The fourth wave of immigration began in 1965 and continues today. Most
immigrants come from Asian countries as well as South American, Caribbean
countries, and Mexico. A large number of these immigrants settle in the East and
Midwest. However, many others move to Florida and California.
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Questions: Immigration
Name: ____________________________ Date:______________________
1. The United States
a. takes in the least amount of immigrants in the world.
b. no longer allows immigration.
c. takes in the highest number of immigrants in the world.
d. only takes in immigrants from Ireland.
2. Which of the following is NOT an immigrant?
a. Aunt Betty came to live with my family after leaving Canada.
b. Hector came on an illegal boat from Cuba. He lives in Miami now.
c. Natalia came to New York to study acting. When she graduates, she
will return to Latvia.
d. Young Na was only two months old when her parents moved here from
Korea.
3. What is the main difference between immigrants coming to America in the 1st
wave and the 4th wave?
a. They were younger in the first wave
b. In the first wave, Africans were forced to come to America against their
will
c. The Colonists didn’t consider themselves immigrants
d. No Europeans come to America anymore
4. What would best describe the United States’ attitude toward immigrants
during the late 1800’s?
a. Generous
b. Unfriendly
c. Upbeat
d. Murderous
5. The passage “Immigrants” is mainly about
a. which countries let in the most immigrants, and why
b. the history of people coming to the United States from other countries
c. why someone would want to leave their home country behind
d. all of the difficulties immigrants had when they arrived to the United
States
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Questions: Immigration
6. Explain why people would or would not want to place limits on immigration to
this country.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
7. What did Congress do related to immigration in 1875?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word or phrase that
best completes the sentence.
_____________the United States economy was very bad during the Great
Depression more people left the United States than came in.
a. Although
b. As a result
c. Because
d. However
9. Today, most immigrants come to the United States from Asia, South America,
the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Who? most immigrants
When? _________________________________________________________
(do) What? ______________________________________________________
(from) Where? ___________________________________________________
10. Vocabulary Word: discriminate: to choose in favor or against a person or
thing based on the basis of which group, class, or category they belong to.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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Answers: Immigration
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 790
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines or illustrates a
concept or topic
Passage Summary: Immigrants leave behind everything to move to a new
country. The United States has been a destination for many immigrants, who have
mainly arrived during four different time periods.
1. The United States
a. takes in the least amount of immigrants in the world.
b. no longer allows immigration.
c. takes in the highest number of immigrants in the world.
d. only takes in immigrants from Ireland.
2. Which of the following is NOT an immigrant?
a. Aunt Betty came to live with my family after leaving Canada.
b. Hector came on an illegal boat from Cuba. He lives in Miami now.
c. Natalia came to New York to study acting. When she graduates,
she will return to Latvia.
d. Young Na was only two months old when her parents moved here
from Korea.
3. What is the main difference between immigrants coming to America in the 1st
wave and the 4th wave?
a. They were younger in the first wave
b. In the first wave, Africans were forced to come to America
against their will
c. The Colonists didn’t consider themselves immigrants
d. No Europeans come to America anymore
4. What would best describe the United States’ attitude toward immigrants during
the late 1800’s?
a. Generous
b. Unfriendly
c. Upbeat
d. Murderous
5. The passage “Immigrants” is mainly about
a. which countries let in the most immigrants, and why
b. the history of people coming to the United States from other
countries
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Answers: Immigration
c. why someone would want to leave their home country behind
d. all of the difficulties immigrants had when they arrived to the United
States
6. Explain why people would or would not want to place limits on immigration to
this country.
Suggested answer: Answers may vary but could include that no limits
should be placed on immigration because everyone should be able to seek
a better life. Alternatively, students may answer that there should be limits
on immigration because there are not enough jobs in America or that
American beliefs and customs may be weakened by too much immigration.
7. What did Congress do related to immigration in 1875?
Suggested answer: In 1875, Congress passed its first immigration law. It
kept undesirables out, such as convicts. [paragraph 5]
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word or phrase
that best completes the sentence.
_____________the United States economy was very bad during the Great
Depression more people left the United States than came in.
a. Although
b. As a result
c. Because
d. However
9. Today, most immigrants come to the United States from Asia, South America,
the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Who? most immigrants
When? today
(do) What? come to the United States
(from) Where? Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico
10. Vocabulary Word: discriminate: to choose in favor or against a person or
thing based on the basis of which group, class, or category they belong to.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.
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