Was America founded on illegal immigration?

I am all for immigration but through the legal channels of the government. So why do advocates for illegal immigration say we are turning our backs on our own immigrant ancestors? But didn't people on the Mayflower pay? Didn't people that went to Ellis Island pay? I am African American so were my ancestors immigrants or just forced to come here? srry about all the questions...

Was America founded on illegal immigration?
If we had no immigration policy our country would be what it is becoming. Chaos. We have an immigration policy not so much to keep undesirables out but to keep things in perspective. Our economy is beginning to feel the effects of importing almost 20% illegal labor force. There isn't enough money to support the businesses that used to thrive because the illegal immigrants are getting the money instead of the people who are here with families to support. It has nothing to do with anything other than keeping our country thriving and doing well both financially and culturally. If you don't have enough respect for a country to immigrate legally,
Reply:Well technically it wasn't illegal back then. But by today's standards it would definitely be illegal. Because in this day and age if a group of people from another country just sailed over and stuck a flag in the sand and said it was theirs, would anyone here stand for it? NO!

What if they told us, the citizens already living here, that we were in THEIR land and we had to live by their rules or they'll kill us? NO WE WOULDN'T!

And if we forced people to come here and work for free while we whipped them, wouldnt that be illegal? YES!

So back then it was ok to do all of those things because it wasn't illegal?

But if a family from another country tries to come over here for a better life, and aren't hurting anybody, its bad because its illegal?

Some of these people have it all screwed up in their heads!

So basically yes, America was built on what we would call today: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Reply:going back in history you are correct, there is a naturalization process. however there are key differences between then and now. in the past prior to the civil war the only requirements to come to the US was that you were a free white person that spoke a european language. you came, you signed, maybe payed a fee and you were american. now the problem is the visa requirements are so restricting. i am not saying illegal immigration is right, its very wrong, but the government needs to recognize that most would-be immigrants are not rich people with many corporate connections. the paper work is long, confusing, very strict, and its all expensive.
Reply:The concept of legal immigration did not exist until 1918 when policy was put into place to require passports of immigrants. Before we just admitted whomever we thought to be of sound body and mind.
Reply:No America was not founded on Illegal Immigration. The Natve Americans had no laws that I know of concerning the issue. When they are speaking of migration, they are speaking of it in terms of their own history between themselves and the Native Americans of the territories at that time in history.



People whose ancestors came through Ellis Island did it legally and waited in line to enter the country. African Americans do not fit into the same catagory as immigrants, until later in history when Africans who decided to come to America as immigrants. African Americans were granted Citizenship in the late 1800's and did not know where in African their ancestors came from were not familiar with any of the customs or languages after and during slavery.
Reply:It doesn't matter if, when, or how your ancestors came to America. If you were born in America, you are an American.



And, America was founded in a rebellion against colonial rule, FWIW.
Reply:Well what I learned was that the people on the Mayflower were outcasts because of religion and wanted to live were they could practice there own religion, there were also explorers on the ship financed by the government. They were willing to bring the settlers for that very purpose, to settle any territory found and create and stabilize a point of origin, at which profits could be made by the government . I don't quite understand the logic of people saying we are turning our back on immigrant ancestors, you have to make a law before you violate a law and there were no immigrant laws in the beginning when this country was being settled, as a matter a fact it was not a country it was a territory. Ellis island was a processing facility for immigrants being examined and processed to become legal immigrants. I don't think African Americans were given a choice in the beginning, so that would mean they were forced in the beginning. We learned about slavery from Europe(SHAME ON US). You would think that we have closed the borders of our country the way people talk. The fact is we legalize more immigrants than any other country, and we have 9 worker programs that would allow a person to work in the US while becoming a citizen. Can we allow Illegal immigration? no because we simply do not have the infrastructure to handle the numbers.
Reply:No American wasn't founded on illegal immigration. When they came there was no laws or rule of law. This was just territory with no governing powers. So the issue is mute. What was given the Indians that were here were gifts to establish friendship and to buy goods but it wasn't money as we know it today.



Yes, African were forced to come here, they were sold as slave by their own black countrymen. Europeans didn't make Africans slaves they were sold to Europeans as slaves. But, it was Europeans that also free as slaves.
Reply:In a lot of cases, some of the first immigrants were brought over here as Indentured servants, People who may have been accused of a crime in another country, And sent here as punishment. Some of them were sent here because they were second sons and the inheritance went to the first son. With them it was learn a trade (sink or swim) And then there were a good many that where ripped from their homes and brought here. And many did chose to come . fleeing famine, prosecution and such. But , the Mayflower , was not generally the ship they came over on. Sounds nice, but not generally a reality.
Reply:Early immigrants paid for their passage, but not to get into this country. However, there was no COUNTRY actually, so they couldn't be illegal immigrants since there were no immigration laws. Your ancestors were rounded up, chained, and forced to row themselves to this country to live in slavery.



This argument for illegal immigration is faulty to the max. But some people think if you pull at enough heartstrings, you'll get your way.
Reply:No...and now I'll tell you why. Something can be "illegal" only when a society exists to enact laws against it; if no such society exists then nothing is "illegal". There were no such laws in place when groups such as those on the Mayflower landed.



At some point, most everyone's ancestors were immigrants; naturally, we will not include Native Americans as they had been living here for many thousands of years.



The people who were forced to come here--that is a topic for another thread--were immigrants, and we would have to classify them as "legal" because they were brought here legally, as the laws at the time existed.
Reply:NO! There were no laws back then - no laws to break.



HOWEVER, we have laws today and the ILLEGAL ALIENS are breaking the law. They shouldn't be here!
Reply:To 'Mexicans are the best': If that's true, why do so many want to escape Mexico? I mean, Mexicans run Mexico, don't they?
Reply:King James I of England was very clear about his policy concerning the people who came to his colonies ... they were his subjects and if the natives didn't like it -- his people had permission to kill the natives if they could/would.



So all the Europeans had 'permission', such as it was. And all the Africans they brought afterward [wasn't much slavery here until 40 or 50 years after the foundings] had 'permission'.



That the 'permission' was achieved by force of arms did not matter. Gunfire make it so.





By the same standard, Israel has won every war so far and is just as legitimate a government as any in Europe. Some of the Arabs were even convinced of this --- after two, three, or four wars on the losing side.



Hamas doesn't want to see things this way? Well, if they want to fight like the old days, they should be treated like the old days when they lose. Israel can bulldoze 'em into the sea for all I care.





:-)
Reply:I don't believe immigrants had to pay to enter the country, they had to fill out some paperwork and there were records kept but at that time - and for a long time - pretty much anyone could come here. They didn't have to get VISAs and green cards and that sort of thing.



The only people in this country who's ancestors weren't immigrants are the Native Americans so, yes the country was built on immigrantion but not 'illegal immigration' - it was all legal at the time.
Reply:america was founded on illegal immigration? i didn't know the indians had passed any immigration laws.....



what history book are you reading???????
Reply:There were no laws regarding immigration to the Americas in the 18th century, so nobody broke any laws. Your ancestors were probably forced to come here by the Dutch slave traders, but that is only a theory.
Reply:We are civilized, other countries don't know what that is
Reply:"colonization and exploration" = They invaded the continents, killed whoever was on their way and bring in slaves (probably your ancestors). The wording seems just nicer ! I am of European descent, but as far as I know, none of my ancestor was welcomed here... so yes, I am from illegal immigrant descents.
Reply:yes it was founded on immagration they discovered first then took over the indians land and exterminated all of them
Reply:No , there where people from mars that came here and ate at the wendys in wal mart one day and decided to now call " the land of cows" america.
Reply:No it wasn't
Reply:My family has been here for around 180 years and I don't know how they got here and don't care. I don't know where most of them are even buried. All I know is that they didn't leave a huge trust fund giving me a check every month for life so I am just grateful to be here and not in some third world country eating carboard filets for dinner.
Reply:no, it was founded on exploration and colonization.

you must be illegal to ask such a silly question