The Advantages Of Mass Immigration At The Turn Of The 20th Century

In this essay I will discuss the advantages of mass immigration at the turn of the 20th century, such as the influx of fresh labor into the American workforce and the reawakening of America’s social consciousness. I will then reconcile the advantages of old mass immigration with that of today’s migrant populations who are revitalizing rural America with economic growth and labor surplus. The turn of the 20th century brought great change to the cultural landscape of America. By 1900, over 39.7 percent of America’s population lived in cities with 2,500 people or more, compared to the measly 5.1 percent of the urban population in 1790. (Page 516, Kennedy) The advent of larger industry and business in urban areas inspired rural Americans and immigrants alike to come them in search of opportunity. From 1850 to the 1870s, more than 2 million immigrants came from the “old motherlands” of the British Isles and Western Europe. (Page 518, Kennedy) However, by the 1880s, the stream of immigrants had changed dramatically as “New
Compared to the 13.5 million foreign-born citizens, or 14.7 percent of the total population, in 1910, immigration has seen an upward trend since the slump of the 1950s and 1960s. (U.S. Census) This new wave of immigration comes from Mexico and Central America and makes up 29 percent of the total foreign-born population at 11.7 million people. (U.S. Census) With the influx of Latinos immigrating to America, the populations of rural regions like Iowa have held steady in the changing landscape of the 2000s. These Latino immigrants often come to work in the meatpacking plants, construction, and agricultural labor. Communities across the state, such as Dennison, have also seen their dying main streets flourish with Latino-owned businesses run by young and old Latino immigrants alike. (Des Moines