How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won
Over the years some 25 million people have come to America. Some came for economic reasons, others to freely practice their religion without persecution, others to escape war, political unrest, and overpopulation. Whatever the reason, they all came to enjoy America's promise of freedom and prosperity. There have been several major waves of immigration throughout the history of the United States. The first dated from 1783 to the early 1800s. Between 1820 and 1870, there was a rapid increase in the number of immigrants who came from northern and Western Europe. "About 7.5 million arrive, mainly from northern and western Europe (especially Great Britain, Ireland and western Germany)." (American Immigration Timeline) The Irish came because of England's oppression and the potato famine during the mid 1840s, and Germans came for economic reasons. Immigrants who entered the United States at these times were known as old immigrants.' In many ways, these immigrants possessed customs and traditions similar to those of Americans. Therefore, it is claimed they adjusted more easily to the American way of life. In brief, the Homestead Act of 1862, granted free federal land to settlers. "The Act, which became law on Jan. 1, 1863, allowed anyone to file for a quarter-section of free land (160 acres). The land was yours at the end of five years if you had built a house on it, dug a well, broken (plowed) 10 acres, fenced a specified amount, and actually lived there. Additionally, one could claim a quarter-section of land by "timber culture" (commonly called a "tree claim"). This required that you plant and successfully cultivate 10 acres of timber." (The Homestead Act of 1862) Word of this opportunity reached Europeans, who then came to America. In addition, during the early 1800s, development of the factory system created a demand for more consumer products. Immigrants provided the necessary manpower.
During the next wave of immigration, from 1881 to
Over the years some 25 million people have come to America. Some came for economic reasons, others to freely practice their religion without persecution, others to escape war, political unrest, and overpopulation. Whatever the reason, they all came to enjoy America's promise of freedom and prosperity. There have been several major waves of immigration throughout the history of the United States. The first dated from 1783 to the early 1800s. Between 1820 and 1870, there was a rapid increase in the number of immigrants who came from northern and Western Europe. "About 7.5 million arrive, mainly from northern and western Europe (especially Great Britain, Ireland and western Germany)." (American Immigration Timeline) The Irish came because of England's oppression and the potato famine during the mid 1840s, and Germans came for economic reasons. Immigrants who entered the United States at these times were known as old immigrants.' In many ways, these immigrants possessed customs and traditions similar to those of Americans. Therefore, it is claimed they adjusted more easily to the American way of life. In brief, the Homestead Act of 1862, granted free federal land to settlers. "The Act, which became law on Jan. 1, 1863, allowed anyone to file for a quarter-section of free land (160 acres). The land was yours at the end of five years if you had built a house on it, dug a well, broken (plowed) 10 acres, fenced a specified amount, and actually lived there. Additionally, one could claim a quarter-section of land by "timber culture" (commonly called a "tree claim"). This required that you plant and successfully cultivate 10 acres of timber." (The Homestead Act of 1862) Word of this opportunity reached Europeans, who then came to America. In addition, during the early 1800s, development of the factory system created a demand for more consumer products. Immigrants provided the necessary manpower.
During the next wave of immigration, from 1881 to