Transforming America: How Waves of Immigration Shaped the Nation

How Did Immigration Change the United States? Immigration was a challenge for those seeking work and a new life in United States. They left behind what was familiar, risked a dangerous trip, and settled where they did not speak the language or know anyone. The earliest wave of immigrants to the United States arrived in the 1830s and 1840s, as factory jobs became available. The hope for a better life pulled still more immigrants during the late 1800s and early 1900s. This second wave of immigration changed the nation socially, culturally, and economically. In 1880, the U.S. population was about 50 million. Just 20 years later, the population had grown to about 76 million. Some Americans worried that the U.S. economy could not support the newcomers. Others were concerned that the traditional American culture would change dramatically. In this lesson, you will learn about immigration to the United States and the experiences of immigrants between the late 1800s and early 1900s. You will demonstrate that you have learned this information through a written assessment. You may write a newspaper article or a guide for immigrants coming to the United States. What Groups Immigrated to the United States? The earliest waves of immigrants to the United States came in the 1830s and 1840s. Most industry at that time was located in the Northeast. As a result, most immigrants settled in that region. From about 1820 to 1880, more than nine million immigrants came to the United States. Most arrived from northern and western European countries, including Great Britain, Ireland, and Germany. Immigration during this period is often referred to as the "old immigration wave" to the United States. In addition to Europeans, immigrants from Asia arrived on the West Coast in the early 1850s. During the California Gold Rush, about 25,000 Chinese immigrants came to the United States. The Second Industrial Revolution, which began after the Civil War, expanded manufacturing to other regions of the United States. Mines and factories needed more workers. Expanding railroads also needed workers. The need for laborers pulled more immigrants from different areas of Europe. Many immigrants came from southern and eastern European countries such as Greece, Italy, and Rus