Demographic Changes in America (1607-1914)
Demographic Changes in America (1607-1914)
Historical records of American demography start with the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Puritans landed in Plymouth and made a home for themselves with the help of Native Americans. These first immigrants in the colonies (British, Dutch, and German), moved to America between the early 17th and late 18th centuries in what was known as Old Immigration. During the colonial period, the birth rate was high but the life expectancy was low. It was common for people to live up until their mid-thirties and families consisted of six to eight children, of which usually just three survived past childhood. The population of the colonies rose to over two million by 1765. The birth rate and life expectancy were the same through the Revolution, but internal migration which took place was the movement of over 60,000 Loyalists to Canada after the United States declared independence from Great Britain. The early national era was a time of massive immigration and expansion for America. After the 1830’s, there was an onslaught of immigrants from all over the world. The Irish came to America because of the Great Potato Famine that was sweeping through Ireland. The California Gold Rush (1849) was another pull factor for immigrants; the search for gold attracted many Chinese immigrants. Nativist groups like the Know-Nothing Party opposed the influx of foreigners but their efforts did not slow immigration down. Within the United States, Manifest Destiny, was taking root and westward expansion became an option with the addition of many new territories. Going to the west was also necessary for some groups to live in their own societies. About 70,000 Mormons moved west to Utah to escape religious persecution. But for Native Americans, going to Oklahoma was not an option; it was mandatory. They were forced to march over 1,000 miles away to a new territory on the Trail of Tears because of the Indian Removal Act, which
Historical records of American demography start with the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Puritans landed in Plymouth and made a home for themselves with the help of Native Americans. These first immigrants in the colonies (British, Dutch, and German), moved to America between the early 17th and late 18th centuries in what was known as Old Immigration. During the colonial period, the birth rate was high but the life expectancy was low. It was common for people to live up until their mid-thirties and families consisted of six to eight children, of which usually just three survived past childhood. The population of the colonies rose to over two million by 1765. The birth rate and life expectancy were the same through the Revolution, but internal migration which took place was the movement of over 60,000 Loyalists to Canada after the United States declared independence from Great Britain. The early national era was a time of massive immigration and expansion for America. After the 1830’s, there was an onslaught of immigrants from all over the world. The Irish came to America because of the Great Potato Famine that was sweeping through Ireland. The California Gold Rush (1849) was another pull factor for immigrants; the search for gold attracted many Chinese immigrants. Nativist groups like the Know-Nothing Party opposed the influx of foreigners but their efforts did not slow immigration down. Within the United States, Manifest Destiny, was taking root and westward expansion became an option with the addition of many new territories. Going to the west was also necessary for some groups to live in their own societies. About 70,000 Mormons moved west to Utah to escape religious persecution. But for Native Americans, going to Oklahoma was not an option; it was mandatory. They were forced to march over 1,000 miles away to a new territory on the Trail of Tears because of the Indian Removal Act, which