The 4 Immigration Waves of America
Second Immigration Wave, 1820-1870
During the 1870 America suffered an economic depression while Germany and England were enjoying prosperity. Immigration went into a decline due to the restrictive legislation and economic problems facing the area at this point in time.
In 1882 as the U:S congress enacted the exclusion act, the amount of immigrants dried up as chinese immigration became virtually illegal.
In 1848 gold was discovered in California leading to the beginning of the creation of the transcontinental railroad in 1862. The begin of this railroad as well as the lure for gold attracted multiple chines immigrants to this area in search of work and wealth.
As the Irish immigrants on the East coast came penniless they decided to stay on the coast whereas the German immigrants arrving during this time travelled inland and bought farms in the Midwest.
The majority of the immigrants arriving on the east coast were German or Irish. As the potato famine in Ireland took place during 1840 one third of the immigrants entering America were Irish people aiming to escape this famine.
After the decrease of immigration during the American Revolution as well as the European wars the second large wave of immigrants began in 1820. This time most of the immigrants entered America through New York rather than Philadelphia.
First Modern Immigration Wave, 1609-1775
In 1619 the first Africans arrived in North America and as the land was cheap became slaves to the many landowners increasing through low land prices. Most Africans came as Chattel slaves, through this process a slave triangle was created.
Between 1609-1775 around half a million Europeans travelled to North America on a quest for adventure, flights from religious persecution, and hopes for brighter economic futures. Most of these people were indentured servants.
In 1607 again 100 men and boys sailed out to North America and sailed to virginia where they named their colony Jamestown after king James 1, John Smith was named leader of this colony. This is known as the first North American permanent british colony.
In 1585, 100 english men arrived on Roanoke Island led by John White who decided to turn back and gather supplies after their arrival. As John White sailed back to the place where he had left his men he found them to have all disappeared without a trace.
By the beginning of the 18th century over 250,000 English citizens had relocated to North America as the English sought over an independent British colony in order to find gold and silver there.
- During the first modern immigration wave most immigrants consisted of English people as well as smaller portions of people from France, Germany, Ireland, Italy.
Third Immigration Wave, 1881- 1920
1949: Unated States had entererd to World War II. After that, the federal government made more permissive immigration laws, specially for chinese citizens, which were ally in wartime. However, third great Immigration Wave had already ended.
1931-1940: only around one half million new immigrants
arrivedin the U.S.
1930's, the Great Depression years: Immigration was further curtailed. There was more emigration than immigration.
1921: a new immigration law, which set limits on the numbers of immigrants permitted in each country, was passed by the U.S. Congress.
they used a formula to decreas southern and eastern European immigration, which was supposed to ensure that most new immigrants would come from northern and western Europe.
1917-1924: Even though there was an anti-immigrant sentiment and more restrictive immigration laws, immigrants continued coming searching for better lives.
1881-1920: more than 23 million new immigrants settled in the U.S., mostly Europeans
restricted U.S. immigration laws: small amount of asian immirants
After 1890: Immigrants mostly from southern and eastern Europe
First decade: Immigrants mostly from northern and western Europe
Late 19th century: transoceanic transportation became cheaper, poor Europeans could immigrate easier.
1880's: American States were after immigrants to increase their population, and railroad companies were looking for laborers, so they sent agents to recruit overseas workers.
Fourth Immigration Wave, 1965 - present
1990-200: The U.S. Hispanic population increased 63%—from 22.4 million to 35.3 million residents.
The largest and longest-enduring movement of laborers worldwide between two countries has been from Mexico to the United States.
first decade of the 21st century: U.S. was in the mittle of the largest immigration wave in its history. Not only one million immigrants entered legally per year, but also one-tenth of all U.S. residents were born abroad, that is around 30 million legal immigrants. Besides, the U.S. Census estimated that there were about 8.7 million illegal immigrants in the country.
New immigrants, legal and illegal, were mostly Hispanics from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
system of quotas
1978: quotas were supplanted by a single one, which let worldwide 290,000 immigrants per year. No limits were placed for the amount of immediate family members of the U.S. citizens who could enter to the Unated States-
the legally entrance of immigrants was higher than the quota figures
1965: acceptance of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act caused the quotas system based on nationality to be replaced by one less restrictive quota system based on
hemispheres.
allowed 120,000 immigrants/year from the Western
Hemisphere. 170,000 from the Eastern Hemisphere.
