Question

Identify the different ways in which the U.S. has responded to waves of immigrants. Discuss the factors that shaped these different responses and how they were reflected in social policy.

Answer 1

The immigration influenced by many factors, but the main factor is economic so that America has responded many waves of immigrants since 18^th century.

1- First wave (1790-1820): In this period immigrants came for a variety of religious, political and economic reason. English, Scottish, Germans, Dutch, French and Spanish.

2- Second wave (1820-1860): America was full of opportunities so immigrants came here for new life because industrial revolution in Europe displaced peasant from agriculture and artisans were made jobless. Approx. 40 percent came from Ireland due to the influence of Catholic Church in America.

3- Third wave (1880-1914): The freedom of religion, faiths, and more opportunities made America, the place to immigrants. They established business and to fulfil the requirement of human resources, people come from Asian countries.

4- Fourth wave (1965-present): A new law that altered the selection of immigrants from the country they were from, to giving priority to the people who already had family in the United States or had skills that were needed in market and economy. Hispanics, Asians made the more than 50 percent of immigration of America.

Conclusion- Immigration changed the socio-economic structure of American society and made diverse culture in America. They influenced education, worked in famous institution and help to grow American economy and wealth. There are some negative impacts of immigration in America as diseases, drugs culture, crime and conservative ideology etc.