Immigration

Definition

The movement of people into a country where they are not native residents, usually for permanent settlement. Immigration has been a defining feature of American history, shaping the nation's demographics, culture, economy, and politics across different eras.

Examples

  • Millions of Europeans arriving at Ellis Island in the late 1800s and early 1900s
  • Chinese immigrants building the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s
  • The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ending national origin quotas

Related Terms

Population patterns Cultural diversity Urbanization Reform movements

Study This Concept

Practice immigration with free review games in these units:

AP US History Unit 6: 1865-1898: Gilded Age