The vast majority were born in the US. The first census was done in 1790. In 1776 the estimated population was 2.5 million.
All the colonies, after they were started, grew mostly by natural growth, with foreign born populations rarely exceeding 10% in isolated instances. The last significant colonies to be settled mainly by immigrants were Pennsylvania in the early 18th century and Georgia and the Borderlands in the late 18th century, as migration (not immigration) continued to provide nearly all the settlers for each new colony or state. This pattern would continue throughout U.S. history.
sheesh, we are a country of immigrants, that is our strength the great melting pot
You can buy into that crap, but we are not a great melting pot anymore, if we ever were. Diversity and multiculturalism are not strengths. Most of our immigrants came from Europe until the 1965 Immigration Act that changed the demographics of this country forever. We are being Balkanized along the lines of culture, language, race, and ethnicity. We have entered the era of tribal politics.
We are not a country of immigrants. 85% of us were born here. And what country, by your definition, is not a country of immigrants?
foreign born and legally present are two different things
Most of them are legally present, i.e., out of the estimated 45 million foreign born about 11.5 million are here illegally--according to official USG figures. Those here legally vote 2 to one Dem.