Immigrants are our grandparents, our relatives, and our friends. They may have been here for years or maybe even months, but the fact remains they are still immigrants. They came from all over the world for many reasons, such as, religious persecution and racial tension, but the largest reason for coming to America was for freedom. The freedom to live where we want, to own property, to take part in the government and most importantly, the freedom to be treated like a human being.
             In the eyes of the early American colonists and the founders of the Constitution, the United States was to represent the ideals of acceptance and tolerance to all people. When the immigration rush began in the mid-1800's, America proved to be everything but acceptance. The millions of immigrants would soon realize the meaning of hardship and rejection as newcomers, as they attempted to assimilate into American culture. For countless immigrants, the struggle to arrive in America was accomplished only by the struggle to gain acceptance among the existing American population. It has been said that immigration is as old as America itself.
             Immigration started from the beginning of our country's time and has had an everlasting effect on America today. Between 1880 and 1920 almost twenty-four million immigrants came to the United States. Between better salaries, religious freedom, and a chance to get ahead in life, were more than enough reasons for leaving their homelands for America. Because of poverty, no future and various discrimination in their homelands, the reason to come to America was increasing.
             During the mid-1800's and early 1900's, the labor and farm hands in Eastern Europe were only earning about 15 cents to 30 cents a day. In America, they earned 50 cents to one dollar in a day, doubling their paycheck. Many left their homelands in search of a better life and soon, everyone knew how great things were
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