Final answer:
Throughout U.S. history, immigrants have commonly faced discriminatory and exclusionary treatment with varying degrees of prejudice based on ethnicity, religion, and race. Discrimination was often prominent in policies and societal behaviors, notably affecting non-white and later arriving immigrant groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The treatment of immigrants throughout history has been complex, with a tendency towards discriminatory and exclusionary treatment, rather than exhibiting a consistent pattern of welcoming and accommodating behavior. This impression is based on a multitude of historical events and societal reactions to different waves of immigration. For instance, recent European immigrants were often targeted by established city dwellers, resulting in widespread discrimination. They faced prejudice due to their distinct culture, religion, language, and appearance, which were starkly different from the norms of native-born Americans.
Racism also played a significant role in the treatment of immigrants, with non-white immigrant populations often being treated unfavorably compared to their white counterparts. Historic events like the establishment of the Dillingham Commission and legislation during the era of nativism in the 1920s highlight the influence of ethnic discrimination in immigration policy. During the period of western settlement, Chinese immigrants, Hispanic citizens, and Native Americans encountered varying degrees of bigotry and exclusion, further illustrating the systemic nature of this issue. The philosophy of Manifest Destiny encouraged westward expansion and was often at odds with the interests and rights of these groups.
Moreover, different immigrant groups themselves experienced a hierarchy of acceptance over time. Where initially the Irish and German immigrants faced ostracization, such prejudice diminished by the end of the 19th century, only for newer immigrant groups like the Italians and Eastern Europeans to become the new targets of widespread disdain.