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Industrial Revolution begins
The beginning of the Industrial Revolution signaled the start of a new world era. The technological and sociopolitical advances made during the Revolution allowed for the world's population to spread out (migrate) more. -
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Migration & Immigration of Peoples
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Invention of the Steam Engine
The invention of the steam engine by James Watt led to faster and more efficient travel, along with introducing a new era of technology. -
Trail of Tears begins
The Trail of Tears was the forced removal of the "Five Civilized Tribes" (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Muscogee Creek) from their homelands to present-day Oklahoma. -
Atlantic slave trade ends
The end of the Atlantic slave trade - and the abolition of slavery as a whole - signaled the end of the forced immigration of African people to the New World and Europe. This allowed the already existent populations to flourish compared to earlier years. In many locations, the slave heritage would directly influence the area's culture. For example, Haiti combined both French and African influences to create a unique culture. -
Emergence of "Manifest Destiny"
The emergence of the political ideology known as Manifest Destiny led to US western expansion. In many areas, the native American population was forced out in order for settlers to claim the area as "theirs". -
Irish Potato Famine begins
The failure of the potato crop in Ireland in 1845 led to the massive emigration from Ireland to areas such as the United States, Canada, Scotland, and England. -
California Gold Rush begins
The discovery of gold in California brought thousands of immigrants from Asia, Australia, Latin America, and Europe to the United States. -
Massive influx of German immigrants to US
Following the Revolutions of 1848, many Germans were eager to leave the political and social turmoil of Germany. Because the United States was one of the few countries allowing the immigration of Germans, a large German population grew in the US. -
Australian immigration begins
Gold was discovered in Bathurst, Australia in 1851. This led to a massive immigration from around the globe: Chinese, Irish, British, American, and South Pacific people all came in the thousands. -
Transcontinental Railroad
Massive amounts of Chinese laborers immigrate to the United States in order to work on the Transcontinental Railroad that stretched across the country. -
Unification of Germany
The unification of Germany under Wilhelm I led to a rising sense of nationalism that created a desire for many Europeans to remain in their "homeland". -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This act, passed by President Arthur, prevented all Chinese laborers from immigrating to the US. This law was not fully repealed until 1943. -
Berlin Conference divides Africa
The control of nearly the whole of Africa by European powers created a new colonialism. The European population in Africa rose dramatically following the new occupations. -
Ellis Island opens
Ellis Island was the United State's largest and busiest immigration inspection station until 1934. Immigrants crossing the Atlantic were required to stop at this station before being allowed into the US. The opening of Ellis Island symbolized the massive influx of immigrants to the United States. -
Yukon Gold Rush begins
The discovery of gold in Canadian Alaska led to the movement of many hopeful prospectors to the northwest region of Canada, an area that had previously held little appeal. -
US gains control of Philippines
Following the Spanish American War, the United States newfound control of the Philippines led to increased immigration between the two countries.
