There are many reasons for millions of Europeans to leave their homelands from 1820 to 1890 but there are a few factors that historians can point to that account for a large portion of immigration to the United States. Here is some background for you.

Push factors. Push factors are things that are bad about the country that one lives in and therefore make one want to leave.
  1. Europe's population doubled from 1750 to 1850 due to a lower mortality rate (people died less due to advancements in medicine, etc) and more food. This placed increasingly more pressure on the land and natural resources. Basically, there became too many people and not enough resources.
  2. The Industrial Revolution that began in the mid-18th century slowly pushed specialized workers out of jobs (this was a time when businesses with large factories began producing many of our goods, so smaller business owners could not compete with the large businesses).
  3. The Agricultural Revolution and new scientific farming methods caused the rural economy (farming) to be reorganized as large farms replaced small family farms. This reorganization displaced many people and the competition drove many small farms out of business.
  4. There were numerous failed revolutions in Europe in 1848 in areas like Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary that forced many people to flee.
  5. In areas like Norway, Holland, and Prussia people were anxious to escape persecution at the hands of clergy (church leaders) or wanted a place to practice their own religious ideas.

Pull factors. Pull factors are things that are good about the new country that make it attractive to want to go there.
  1. Popular knowledge about the United States throughout Europe increased with the spread of public education and growing literacy rates. The great bulk of emigrants to the United States wanted to earn a better living and improve their economic situation. Many were convinced that they could be successful in America.
  2. The Industrial Revolution in the United States resulted in a need for cheap labor to build the canals and railroads, dig the mines, plow the fields, and work in the factories. The need for cheap labor was increased due to the end of slavery after the Civil War.
  3. Immigrants were also drawn to the United States by the prospects of being able to own their own land. The 1862 Homestead Act promised that a man could earn the title to 160 acres of land by living on and cultivating the land for five years as long as he was either a US citizen or declared his intention to become a citizen.
  4. Railroads and steam-ship companies ran advertisements encouraging immigrants to come to America. These companies benefited because they made money on selling tickets.

Now go on to the next step where you will have the chance to see more push and pull factors.
Last modified: Monday, 30 July 2012, 7:51 PM