1607-1830: The main immigrants arriving in America at this time were the Scotch-Irish. When the ships from Philadelphia to unload their cargoes these immigrants would sell themselves, for the price of their passage, to a captain. Once the company reached the New World, the captain would then auction off their services. These Scotch-Irish would then work a set term of years to redeem themselves from their purchases.
1830-1924: Prior to the year 1855 ships that carried passengers to the United States merely left them at the wharf. They were then usually attacked by all sorts of thugs and criminals. Con-men also saw them as an easy target. A main problem the immigrants faced was the fear that Americans felt toward the diseases that immigrants brought with them and society generally ousted them altogether. After 1855 though, Castle Garden which is found on the southern tip of Manhattan, became an immigrant receiving center. The purpose of its creation was to allow the United States a better way to keep track of all the new immigrants entering the country. Clerks working there would record such information as the peoples names, nationalities, and destinations. Physicians would usually perform routine checkups and physicals that would ensure each of the immigrants was healthy. This receiving station was later transferred to Ellis Island.
1890-1924: During this time period the only way for immigrants to enter the country was through Ellis or Angel Island. Once arriving at one of these destinations, the requirements for entering the country were surprisingly light. Firstly, they must be tested for diseases and whether or not they were physically fit. They also were required to present all the proper documents from their former country. The last two requirements were perhaps the easiest. They were simply having to be mentally fit and ready for life in the U.S.
Cubans from 1862-Present: In October of 1962 all commercial air-flights from Cuba to the United States were suspended. Nevertheless, more than 50,000 Cubans entered the U.S. between the years of 1962 and 1965. Many of them entered secretly from Cuba in small boats although some were apprehended before they reached our country by the Cuban navy. Then in 1965 the United States and Cuban governments agreed to set up an airlift between the two countries. Its construction brought another 250,000 Cubans to America between 1966 and 1973. It was up until the year 1994 the United States welcomed immigrants from Cuba as victims of an oppressive regime. It was in this year that thousands of Cubans set out for Florida in small boats and rafts to try and escape the extreme poverty in Cuba. Of course after this influx was noticed President Clinton announced that the United States would not accept any more refugees. This new policy was designed to avoid the large cost of settling many refugees in Florida.