5UEBSTIIOGNS

Q
ABOUT IMMI The history of America would be
the people who came from

AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT: How have immigrants played an important role in U.S. history?

1 2
Why is the United States often called Does that mean
“a nation of immigrants”
immigrants”? America has always
Because it is! Every person living in the U.S. who been welcoming
isn’t Native American is either an immigrant or a to immigrants?
descendant of one. Today, the U.S. is more diverse Not exactly. Americans have
than ever. About 45 million people living here were struggled with what to think
born in other countries. about newcomers since even
before the U.S. was a country.
MAP IT OUT Benjamin Franklin was one of
Top Five Countries of Birth for Immigrants in the U.S. in 2017 the nation’s founders. In the
1750s, he worried about the
CHINA German immigrants who settled
2.9 million
in the 13 Colonies. He wrote
U.S.
that they would “never adopt
AFRICA
PHILIPPINES our language or customs.”
2.0 million
MEXICO During the 1800s, huge waves
11.2 million
INDIA of immigrants began to arrive.
2.6 million AUSTRALIA
The first big groups of
EL SALVADOR
1.4 million newcomers came from
Sources: Pew Research Center, 2017 American Community Survey
countries in Europe. Later, large
About how many immigrants who live in the numbers began to arrive from
U.S. were born in China and India combined?
Asia. Many immigrants spoke
different languages than most
Americans did. Many also
practiced different religions and
dressed differently. This
alarmed many Americans. They
feared that these newcomers
would take their jobs, spread
crime, and change American
culture.

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 GRATION
5
much different without immigrants— What are Americans’
other countries to settle here. current views on
immigration?
A 2019 national survey shows that

3
But haven’t immigrants Americans have different opinions
helped America? on the issue:

62%
In many ways, immigrants
helped build the U.S. They helped
build railroads, bridges, subways, said immigrants strengthen
the country because of their
and skyscrapers. Immigrant laborers

Source: Pew Research Center, January 2019 survey

hard work and talents.
worked on the nation’s farms and
in its factories and mines. They helped the U.S. economy
become the world’s biggest.
Today, about one in six workers in the U.S. were born in
another country. They’re doctors, lawyers, and engineers. They
work in every other field too. And some of the largest American 28% 10%
companies were started by immigrants or the children of said immigrants burden said both,
the country by taking jobs, neither, or
immigrants. That includes Amazon, Apple, and Google.
housing, and health care. don’t know.

In recent years, the U.S. has put

4
restrictions on immigration. It has
Why do immigrants come to the United States?
also admitted far fewer refugees
Many immigrants view America as a land of
than in the past. These decisions
opportunity. They come to get a better education and
Pages 2-3: naphtalina/Getty Images (Statue of Liberty); Shutterstock.com (all other images); Jim McMahon/Mapman® (map)

have been big topics of debate for

find better jobs than they could in their home country. Others
many Americans.
come to join relatives who came before them.
Alan Kraut is a professor at
But some people, called refugees, come to the U.S. to
American University in Washington,
escape danger. Often, they are fleeing war or gang violence.
D.C. He says the debate over who to
Other refugees are at risk because of their religion, race, or
let in and who to keep out is nothing
political beliefs. Unlike other immigrants, most refugees
new. “How many immigrants do we
cannot return to their homelands because it is too unsafe.
accept? From where?” he says.
“These are the same questions our
leaders have been asking for years.”
WORDS TO KNOW
descendant noun. someone who is related to a person or group
of people who lived in the past
n debate
of the immigratio
economy noun. a country’s system for managing its money LET THEM STAY? Much ter the U.S. without
en
and resources (such as workers and land) to make, buy, and
is over people who m/sn56.
sell goods and services
io n. Le ar n m ore at scholastic.co
permiss
scholastic.com/sn56 3