But the U.S. population also included Native Americans and large numbers ofDutch, Spanish, and Germans, in addition to Africans, who were broughtagainst their will as slaves beginning in 1619.

Americans have often been wary of welcoming foreigners. Even before thenation’s founding, Benjamin Franklin worried that German immigrants weretaking over Pennsylvania.

In 1751, Franklin referred to the German newcomers as “a colony of aliens [who] will never adopt our language or customs.” 

The 19th century brought very different immigrants, starting with the Irish andlater the Italians, both of whom were largely poor farmers and Catholic. Thencame the Chinese—who arrived in large numbers during the California GoldRush—and Jews fleeing persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Conflicted feelings about immigrants go back to the nation’s founding (seetimeline, below). In 1776, most Americans were immigrants, or the descendantsof immigrants, from the British Isles. The majority were white Anglo-SaxonProtestants who came in search of economic opportunity or to escape religiousor political persecution. 

But the U.S. population also included Native Americans and large numbers ofDutch, Spanish, and Germans, in addition to Africans, who were broughtagainst their will as slaves beginning in 1619.

Americans have often been wary of welcoming foreigners. Even before thenation’s founding, Benjamin Franklin worried that German immigrants weretaking over Pennsylvania.

In 1751, Franklin referred to the German newcomers as “a colony of aliens [who] will never adopt our language or customs.” 

The 19th century brought very different immigrants, starting with the Irish andlater the Italians, both of whom were largely poor farmers and Catholic. Thencame the Chinese—who arrived in large numbers during the California GoldRush—and Jews fleeing persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe.

“The Great Immigration Debate.” Junior Scholastic Magazine, 19 Feb. 2018, junior.scholastic.com/issues/2017-18/021918/the-great-immigration-debate.html#1200L.