History of the United States II / Unit 4 USH2 0465 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Old and New Immigration
The idea
The census counts of foreign-born residents show the shift. Americans born in Germany numbered about one point seven million in eighteen seventy, peaked near two point eight million in eighteen ninety, and fell to two point three million by nineteen ten. Irish-born residents declined steadily, from about one point nine million to one point four million. Italian-born residents rose from seventeen thousand to one point three four million, and Russian-born from under five thousand to nearly one point two million.
In practice
Two rows levelling off and declining, and two rows multiplying by eighty and by two hundred fifty.
Where people slip
The familiar version treats immigration as one steady wave. The table shows two different migrations: an older stream from northern and western Europe that levelled off, and a newer one from southern and eastern Europe that surged. These are residents counted at each census, not arrivals in a year, so they measure who had settled. The quota laws of unit nine were written to reverse this shift.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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