Haven't signed into your Scholastic account before?
Teachers, not yet a subscriber?
Subscribers receive access to the website and print magazine.
You are being redirecting to Scholastic's authentication page...
Announcements & Tutorials
Explore our NEW Text Set: Celebrating Black History and Voices!
How Students and Families Can Log In
1 min.
Setting Up Student View
Sharing Articles with Your Students
2 min.
Interactive Activities
4 min.
Sharing Videos with Students
Using Scholastic News with Educational Apps
5 min.
Join Our Facebook Group!
Exploring the Archives
Powerful Differentiation Tools
3 min.
Planning With the Pacing Guide
Subscriber Only Resources
Access this article and hundreds more like it with a subscription to Scholastic News magazine.
Shutterstock.com
Article Options
Presentation View
Reading Level
5 Big Questions About Immigration
The history of America would be much different without immigrants—the people who came from other countries to settle here.
As You Read, Think About: How have immigrants played an important role in U.S. history?
1. Why is the United States often called “a nation of immigrants”?
Because it is! Every person living in the U.S. who isn’t Native American is either an immigrant or a descendant of one. Today, the U.S. is more diverse than ever. About 45 million people living here were born in other countries.
Top Five Countries of Birth for Immigrants in the U.S. in 2017
About how many immigrants who live in the U.S. were born in China and India combined?
2. Does that mean America has always been welcoming to immigrants?
Not exactly. Americans have struggled with what to think about newcomers since even before the U.S. was a country. In the 1750s, Benjamin Franklin, one of the nation’s founders, worried about the German immigrants who settled in the 13 Colonies. He wrote that they would “never adopt our language or customs.”
During the 1800s, huge waves of immigrants began to arrive—first from countries in Europe and later from Asia. Many dressed differently, spoke different languages, and practiced different religions than most Americans did. This alarmed many people, who feared that these newcomers would take their jobs, spread crime, and change American culture.
Not exactly. Americans have struggled with what to think about newcomers since even before the U.S. was a country. Benjamin Franklin was one of the nation’s founders. In the 1750s, he worried about the German immigrants who settled in the 13 Colonies. He wrote that they would “never adopt our language or customs.”
During the 1800s, huge waves of immigrants began to arrive. The first big groups of newcomers came from countries in Europe. Later, large numbers began to arrive from 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.
3. But haven’t immigrants helped America?
In many ways, immigrants helped build the U.S., from railroads and bridges to subways and skyscrapers. Immigrant laborers on the nation’s farms and in its factories and mines 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—and work in every other field too. And some of the largest American companies—including Amazon, Apple, and Google—were started by immigrants or the children of immigrants.
In many ways, immigrants helped build the U.S. They helped build railroads, bridges, subways, and skyscrapers. Immigrant laborers 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 companies were started by immigrants or the children of immigrants. That includes Amazon, Apple, and Google.
4. Why do immigrants come to the United States?
naphtalina/Getty Images
Many view America as a land of opportunity, where they can get a better education and find better jobs than they could in their home country. Others come to join relatives who came before them.
But some people, called refugees, come to the U.S. to escape danger. Often they are fleeing war or gang violence. Other refugees are at risk because of their religion, race, or political beliefs. Unlike other immigrants, most refugees cannot return to their homelands because it is too unsafe.
Many immigrants view America as a land of opportunity. They come to get a better education and find better jobs than they could in their home country. Others come to join relatives who came before them.
But some people, called refugees, come to the U.S. to escape danger. Often, they are fleeing war or gang violence. Other refugees are at risk because of their religion, race, or political beliefs. Unlike other immigrants, most refugees cannot return to their homelands because it is too unsafe.
5. What are Americans’ current views on immigration?
A 2019 national survey shows that Americans have different opinions on the issue:
62% said immigrants strengthen the country because of their hard work and talents.
28% said immigrants burden the country by taking jobs, housing, and health care.
10% said neither/both/don't know
In recent years, the U.S. has put restrictions on immigration and admitted far fewer refugees than in the past. These decisions have been big topics of debate for many Americans.
Alan Kraut is a professor at American University in Washington, D.C. He says the debate over who to let in and who to keep out is nothing new. “How many immigrants do we accept? From where?” he says. “These are the same questions our leaders have been asking for years.”
1. What are some facts that support the idea that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants?
2. According to the article, why have some people been unwelcoming to immigrants?
3. How does the author show how most Americans feel about immigration today?