<P> In the early years of the U.S. , immigration was only about 6,000 people a year on average , including French refugees from the slave revolt in Haiti . The French Revolution , starting in 1789 , and the Napoleonic Wars from 1792 to 1814 severely limited immigration from Europe . The War of 1812 ( 1812 -- 1814 ) with Britain again prevented any significant immigration . By 1808 Congress had banned the importation of slaves , slowing that human traffic to a trickle . </P>
<P> In the early years of the U.S. , immigration was only about 6,000 people a year on average , including French refugees from the slave revolt in Haiti . The French Revolution , starting in 1789 , and the Napoleonic Wars from 1792 to 1814 severely limited immigration from Europe . The War of 1812 ( 1812 -- 1814 ) with Britain again prevented any significant immigration . By 1808 Congress had banned the importation of slaves , slowing that human traffic to a trickle . </P>
at the time of american independence in 1789 the population of the u.s. was dominated by
at the time of american independence in 1789 the population of the u.s. was dominated by
French Revolution
French Revolution