American Immigration In The Late 1800s

Immigration was a big thing in the U.S back in 1800s, and it still is now. Many immigrants came to America seeking greater economic opportunities; others came for a better life. For example, the pilgrims came in search for religious freedom. Either way, the U.S was a place where people could feel safe, and have better opportunities for themselves and their families. Many people still come for just those reasons.

John Adams, our 2nd president, had a little bit of a different view on immigration. During the war with the French, many European immigrants came to the
U.S. “American citizens were worried that these immigrants would side with the
French. So, congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1789.” A source called
“President Precedents”
Adams didn’t know if he should trust the Europeans, so he decided to solve his problem by imprisoning or deporting these immigrants who had done nothing wrong and who came here for a better life. Another source I found called “Adams passes first of Alien and Sedition Acts” stated “The Sedation Act was the most distressing to the ‘loyal First Amendment advocates’. They felt that the treasonable activity was vaguely defined.”. They were unsure and clueless. Would this act take away their basic rights too or only the immigrants? The third source I found was called “Alien and
Sedation Acts” and it stated, “Under the terms of this law over 20 Republican newspaper editors were arrested and some were imprisoned. The most dramatic victim of the law was Representative Mathew Lyon of Vermont. His letter that criticized
President Adams' ‘unbounded thirst for ridiculous pomp, foolish adulation, and self- avarice’ caused him to be imprisoned. While Federalists sent Lyon to prison for his opinions, his constituents reelected him to Congress even from his jail cell.”