the four main periods of immigration

early immigration 1600-1800

Jan 1, 1600

People from North-western Europe sailed across the Atlantic after the new world was discovered by Europeans. The immigrants were mostly from England, but also from countries such as Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Some people traveled involuntarily. They were Africans that were brought to America as slaves.

mid-1800s

Jan 1, 1800

Many people came to America to be a part of the gold rush after the discovery of gold in California.
People from China helped build the railway in America.
After that, farmlands become cheaper and plentiful. Millions of Irish people immigrated to America because they didn’t have enough food at home.

late 1800s-1920

Jan 1, 1920

the biggest movement of people in recorded history was between the late 1800s to the early 1900s. About 40 million immigrants emigrated to America in that time period. Steamships had made the trip much faster and cheaper, and people from all over the world emigrated to America for a better life.