4 Waves of U.S. Immigration
Prior to 1840, 2 million Europeans immigrated to the U.S., 90%
came from Great Britain
1840s & 1850s
- 4 million
- 90% from N. and W. Europe
- 40% from Ireland
- 33% from Germany
1880s
- 5 million
- 80% from N. and W. Europe
- 1/3 from Germany
late 1890s to early 1900s
- approx. 20 million
- nearly 1 million per year
- peak of 1.3 million in 1907
- 90% from Europe
- switch to S. and E. Europe
1960 - present
- approx. 20 million
- less than 20% from Europe
- approx. 40% from Latin America
- approx. 1/3 from Asia