(I) No country’s history has been more closely bound to
immigration than that of the US. (II) During the first 15
years of the 20th century alone, over 13 million
immigrants came to the US. (III) From early on,
Americans viewed immigrants as a cheap source of
labor; however, they became fearful that their culture
was threatened as more and more immigrants arrived.
(IV) Immigration slowed down in the early 19th century
since wars disrupted trans-Atlantic travel and European
governments restricted immigration to retain young men
of military age. (V) In addition, the Founding Fathers,
especially Thomas Jefferson, were ambivalent whether
or not the US ought to welcome arrivals from every
corner of the world.