U.S. Immigration Policy, Ethnicity, and Religion in American History

The book “U.S. Immigration Policy, Ethnicity, and Religion in American History” by Michael C. LeMay explores the complex relationship between immigration, ethnicity, and religion in the United States. It examines how immigration laws and policies have shaped the country’s ethnic and religious composition and how these, in turn, have influenced American history.

The book begins by discussing the early history of immigration to the United States, from the colonial period to the early 19th century. During this time, the United States was a relatively open society, and immigrants were generally welcomed. However, this began to change in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as a wave of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe arrived. These immigrants were often seen as being different from the “native-stock” Americans, and they were often discriminated against.

This discrimination led to the passage of a number of laws that restricted immigration. These laws included the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned immigration from China, and the Immigration Act of 1924, which imposed quotas on immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. These laws had a significant impact on the ethnic and religious composition of the United States, and they helped to create a more homogeneous society.

The book then examines how immigration laws and policies have changed in the years since the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924. In the 1960s, the United States passed a number of laws that removed the quotas on immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe. This led to a new wave of immigration from these regions, as well as from Asia and Latin America.

The book concludes by discussing the current state of immigration policy in the United States. It notes that the United States is still a relatively open society, but that there is a growing debate about how to deal with the issue of illegal immigration. The book argues that the United States needs to find a way to balance the need for security with the need for compassion.

Overall, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the history of immigration policy in the United States. It is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about this topic.