Timeline: U.S. Immigration Throughout History

May 14, 1607

Jamestown Colony

This was the first successful colony of English immigrants in America.

Dec 4, 1620

Mayflower

English first immigrate to America aboard the Mayflower.

Dec 4, 1845

Irish Potato Famine

Dec 4, 1849

California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush brought many Asian immigrants to California.

Mar 4, 1875

Page Act of 1875

This was a precusor to the Chinese Exclusion Act that prevented 'undesirable' people from immigrating to the United States. These included Chinese people looking to work as contract laborers and people that were convicted of crimes in their own country.

May 6, 1882

Chinese Exclusion Act

Dec 4, 1892

Ellis Island Opened

Sep 7, 1893

Canadian Agreement

This law was a way to keep unwanted immigrants from going to Canada and then immigrating to the United States.

Dec 4, 1904

U.S. Border Patrol Begins

Dec 4, 1910

Angel Island Opened

Dec 4, 1921

National Origins Formula

This limited the number of immigrants that could come into America. It mostly effected eastern and southern Europeans.

Dec 4, 1960

Operation Peter Pan

This was a CIA operation to help move Cuban children who were going to be forced to join the military or be shipped to Soviet labor camps into Miami, Florida.