Newspaper articles about Immigration tell stories of hope and determination. Yet they also report on the fears surrounding immigration in the US since the mid-19th century. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the Patriot Act of 2001, immigration and the security of the US's borders has always been a controversial topic of conversation. The ebb and flow of immigration can be tied to many historical events. The Irish potato famine of 1845 brought nearly 500,000 immigrants to America by 1850. The Gold Rush of 1849 sparked off the first mass immigration from China. The signing of the Homestead Bill by President Lincoln in 1862 led to yet another wave of immigration from all over the world. Yet, the most common causes for immigration are recurring historic trends such as religious and political oppression and economic decline. Immigration to the United States is a topic of immense historical importance, one that in many ways has been the driving force in the society we live in today. Immigration control has been on the agenda of the US government for nearly 120 years and has at times dictated foreign and domestic policy. NewspaperARCHIVE.com, the largest newspaper database online, provides a free archive on Immigration. The archive includes stories on the numerous immigration policies in US history, as well as reports on the opening and closing of Ellis Island. You will also find articles on historic events, such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the tightening of immigration controls. Click on the timeline above to view newspapers in chronological order or begin searching the newspaper pages with your own key words.