The Old Immigration
The amount of new immigrants decreased during the early 1790s to 1820s. During this time, it is said that only 250,000 immigrants moved to the United States. However, the Immigrants were left to “freely multiply”, which increased the population from 3,000,000 to 10,000,000 (Wittke, 1839 p. 101). Native immigrants also wrote letters back home describing America as a great land and opportunity, urging them to immigrate over as well. During the early nineteenth century, the second wave of immigration began, and more immigrants from different countries fled to America. This time, the Irish, Germans and Scandinavians poured into the United States.
During 1820 to 1920, over four million Irish came to the U.S. The Irish’s main source of income was through agriculture; however, their land was under aristocracy control which often took control over their land. It is said that the Irish lived as peasants, working all day and having nothing to eat besides potatoes and milk (Wittke, 1839). The Irish fled to America after the Great Potato Famine in hopes to set up land and become a primary source for the abundant resources found in Emerald Isle.
Over 5,300,000 Germans came to the United States in the century before the World War. In 1850, the Germans made up about 26 percent of the foreign-born population, and by 1860, it raised to 31 percent (Wittke, 1839). The main reason for their immigration was for economic purposes, as well as the American promise of cheap land and good soil. The Germans set up farming in the Mississippi Valley and also trained as apprentices to learn mechanical skills which would later be used to work as tradesman. The Germans also fled to America to escape long military service requirements (IUPUI University Library, 2004).
The Scandinavian Immigrant population had exceeded 2,000,000 from 1820 to the outbreak of the World War. The number of foreign-born Scandinavians had exceeded over 1,000,000 by the 1900s. The Scandinavians immigrated to the U.S. primarily to “improve their holding in the goods of the world” (Wittke, 1839 p.263). Although the Scandinavians had to face religious persecution and oppression, this had little to do with the influence of their migration.
During 1820 to 1920, over four million Irish came to the U.S. The Irish’s main source of income was through agriculture; however, their land was under aristocracy control which often took control over their land. It is said that the Irish lived as peasants, working all day and having nothing to eat besides potatoes and milk (Wittke, 1839). The Irish fled to America after the Great Potato Famine in hopes to set up land and become a primary source for the abundant resources found in Emerald Isle.
Over 5,300,000 Germans came to the United States in the century before the World War. In 1850, the Germans made up about 26 percent of the foreign-born population, and by 1860, it raised to 31 percent (Wittke, 1839). The main reason for their immigration was for economic purposes, as well as the American promise of cheap land and good soil. The Germans set up farming in the Mississippi Valley and also trained as apprentices to learn mechanical skills which would later be used to work as tradesman. The Germans also fled to America to escape long military service requirements (IUPUI University Library, 2004).
The Scandinavian Immigrant population had exceeded 2,000,000 from 1820 to the outbreak of the World War. The number of foreign-born Scandinavians had exceeded over 1,000,000 by the 1900s. The Scandinavians immigrated to the U.S. primarily to “improve their holding in the goods of the world” (Wittke, 1839 p.263). Although the Scandinavians had to face religious persecution and oppression, this had little to do with the influence of their migration.