United States Immigration

AP Standard 2C: Population Movement

EQ #1: How has immigration shaped the population composition of the United States?

Background Reading: Key Issues 2 & 3 in chpt. 3 of text

Web Sources: Focus your search of the web resources below by looking for the answers to the questions that follow.

  • United States Immigration and Naturalization Service on Laws and Resources on the top. From there check out the left side bar for historical information you can use as well as current laws and information. (There is A LOT of info on this site, just explore around and take notes) (also search for Immigration Act of 1990 here)
  • Population Reference Bureau [see "Immigration/Migration] You may also want to check out the main site at to explore around.
  • Center for Immigration Studies (This site has most everything you need to answer the questions. Use the topics in the left side menu to find answers to the questions.
  • United States Census Bureau "Migration/Geographic Mobility"
  • Great site for laws and history, just look at the left tab.
  • Remember, your textbook is a great source too!!!
  1. Briefly describe today's immigrants in terms of numbers, main source areas, and skills/education.
  2. Identify and rank the five countries sending the largest numbers of immigrants to the United States. Include numbers for the latest year available. Create a chart with this info.
  3. Look at the history of immigration laws. What kinds of issues did the laws regulate?
  4. What is meant by "preference levels" for immigration to the United States?
  1. Identify and list the preference levels.
  2. What were the basic reasons for the record-breaking immigration in 1990 and 1991?
  3. When did it level off?
  4. Are migration numbers to the United States smaller or larger today?
  5. Why?

EQ #2: Who Are the Immigrants to the United States? How Have They Changed Over Time?

Refer to the current Yearbook for Immigration Statistics report at

Open Table 2. Note that this table provides statistics for immigrants from major world regions by decade. Use the data to answer the following questions.

1. What was the main source of immigrants in the 19th century?

2. What changes in immigration source regions have occurred in the last several decades?

3. What might account for the shift in immigration source regions?

4. How might this shift in source regions affect the composition of the United States population?

5. Consider the major immigration source countries. What conditions in these countries might account for the numbers of people leaving?

6. How does a large immigrant population affect the cultural landscape of the places in which they settle? (Think of the changes in Utica, NY.)

7. Draw a mind map of the United States. Create a key and show the areas/states that are being settled by immigrants. Underneath your map, list pull factors that seem to pull immigrants to some U.S. states more than others.