During the colonial era, between 1880s and 1920 and at the start of the 19 th century, America received a huge number of immigrants from European nations. Most immigrants came to seek economic opportunities. At the same time, a majority of them such as the pilgrims were seeking religious freedom.
Religious Factors
The Pilgrims were the first settlers in America, and they started arriving at 1600. They came looking for freedom to practice their religious activities and practice their faith. Around 1620, a group of immigrants arrived in the US after fleeing religious persecutions in Europe, and they settled at what is currently Plymouth, Massachusetts. They established a colony there. Later, they were followed by Puritans, who were also looking for freedom to practice their religious activities. It is estimated that over 20,000 Puritans came to the region during the 1600. America also received huge number of Jews coming from Eastern Europe, running away from religious persecutions. Over 2 million Jews came to America between 1880 and 1920.
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Social Factors
The explorers and settlers were the first immigrants in America. Specifically, immigrants from European nations such as Scandinavia and Netherlands moved to America to start new lives and establish culture. America was seen as an extension of Europe and as such, some American cultural features such as law and language still evident today were brought by immigrants. A huge wave of immigration was experienced in America between 1815 and 1865. Most of the immigrants hailed from Western and Northern Europe, and majority were from Ireland, which had been faced by huge famine. In the 1840s, majority of immigrants to America were poor Ireland citizens, who resolved to settle along the East Coast. Over 4.5 million individuals from Ireland migrated to America. The first Germans to arrive in America around 1840s were simply there to start new life. They had undergone challenges after their crops failed due to potato blight, and they deemed America was a better place for them.
Economic Factors
In the mid 1800s, America experienced an influx of Asian immigrants. They had come purposely because of the California gold rush. Also, there were over 25,000 Chinese who migrated there because of gold. These two categories of individuals were coming for trade purposes. The Germans equally arrived in America during the 1700 to search for opportunities to do business.
References
European Immigration to America. Retrieved from <http://www.emmigration.info/european-immigration-to-america.htm>
U.S. Immigration before 1965. Retrieved from: <https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/u-s-immigration-before-1965>
