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Columbus, an Italian sailor, lands in Hispaniola. Conquest of Native Americans and colonization begins.
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http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/#event3' >To learn more...</a>
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The English settle the colony of Jamestown in Virginia in the hopes of finding gold. Although the first years were hard and many lives were lost, the colony eventually began making money and led to more colonies being established. http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/article-433055/Jamestown?#9433055.toc
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Forced migration of Africans began as 20 men where forced aboard a Dutch ship and taken to the Jamestown colony.
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Many people left England to escape religious persecution on the Mayflower. Conflicts and friendships began with the Wampanogs who were native to the area. A video to learn more about their first winter. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1483505113001?bctid=661021022001&iframe=true&width=435&height=420
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Largest forced migration in US history. Over the next 100+ years millions of Africans were stolen and sold into slavery.
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Many of the new immigrants that came to America were actually indentured servants. These were people that would trade their labor for ususally a period of 5 to 7 years in trade for passage to the colonies.
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-209308/United-States-history -
As more generations are being born in the US, ties with England become frayed. Representatives of the 13 colonies formed the Continental Congress and wrote the Declaration of Independence in which they declared that they wanted to be their own country, the United States of America. War with England began.
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Over the next several years large amounts of immigrants arrived from England, Germany, Scotland and Ireland.
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Forced relocation of Cherokee , Creek, Seminole, and Chocktaw from their homeland to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. During this time as the US was expanding westward, pushing Native Americans further off their land.
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In 1845 a blight ruined potato farming for several years which lead to famine in Irelland. This prompted a major mass migration of Irish immigrants to the United States
To learn more, watch a video at http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-184523 Irish Potato Famine. [Video]. In Britannica Online for Kids. Retrieved from http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-184523 -
A discovery of gold at a sawmill spured a mass migration of settlers and foreigners to California with the hopes to strike it rich. Included in the migration where people from China, France, Germany, Chile, Mexico, Ireland, and Turkey.
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During the Civil War over 600,000 lives were lost. Many of those were immigrants that fought for both sides. This war led to the eventual end of legalized slavery.
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Begining in 1892, Ellis Island in New York became the gateway for newly arrived immigrants into the United States. Approximately 12 million would come through there up until 1954. To learn more about Ellis Island : http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1483505113001?bctid=1485472589001&iframe=true&width=435&height=420
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Enacted as a federal law that put limitations on who and how many immigrants were allowed to enter the Unted States. One of the reasons for the law was that Americans became suspiscious of people who were not "native" born and questioned their motives. LAws like this increased fear and prejuidices of foreigners.
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The US enters war after attack on Pearl Harbor. As war continues, immigration to the US slows considerably, especially with Japan, Germany and Italy. Americans become fearful again of foreigners. After the war President Truman urged Congress to allow displaced people in Europe and elsewhere entry to the US. To hear an audio address:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1483179558001?bctid=1646262162001&iframe=true&width=435&height=420 -
The US passes the act which abolishes the previous immigration quotas and looks instead to reunite families and bring skilled workers to the US.
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Starting in the 90's, the United States saw an influx of Asians, Mexixans, and Latinos.
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After the 9/11 attacks, hostility against immigrants intensifies, especially against middle easterners.
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Today approximately 1 in 10 residents in America are foreign born.
