The history of Indian Americans spans over 125 years and is best understood in two phases. The first phase, from the late 1890s to 1965, began with peasants, students, and political dissenters opposed to British rule in India making their way to the United States. This continued until the Asiatic Barred Zone Act of 1917, which halted migration until 1945. Thereafter, only a miniscule number of immigrants from India were permitted entry until the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (also known as the 1965 Immigration Act), marking the beginning of the second phase and continuing until the present day.

Until 2000, this second phase saw many students seeking higher education and professional degrees entering the US. Families grew and dispersed around the country. After 2000, these trends intensified. As of 2019, there are 4.6 million Indian Americans. Many have made inroads into American politics, the technology sector, and higher education.

In this module, we will learn about the political, economic, social, cultural, and religious history of Indian Americans. We will gain insight into how the community grew; the diversity among Indian Americans; hurdles they had to overcome to achieve security, economic success, and political visibility; and the role of religion and culture in their attempts to forge community connection and solidarity. This module is an overview of the first phase of Indian American immigration.