Social Mobility within Generations

Social Mobility within Generations

Introduction

Immigration to the United States is the largest influx of immigration in the history of the world. Tens of millions of immigrants from various European countries (Poland, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Russia) and Asia (mainly China), settled in United States. This wave of immigration started from the early nineteenth century and still many people migrate to United States for the look of better opportunity. However, we can distinguish periods of stronger inflow of population.

The 80th and 90th centuries became a period of increased immigration to the United States. One thousand nine hundred and fifteen immigrants entered United States in 1925. The government had to introduce various policies to reduce the influx of immigrants in America. The policies introduced gradually reduced immigration in America. By the end of 1926, the number of immigrants entering United States reduced to 150 thousand people per year. These policies restricted the influx of immigrants through 60s and 70s. However, 80s and 90s saw another significant influx of immigrants to United States.

Immigration and its Causes

The foremost immigration wave which began in the 17th century and continued till the next century consisted of the pioneers of the U.S. colonies. For the most part, of these settlers were British, Germans, Scots and individuals from France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Servants and slaves from African countries during this period were brought forcefully to this country. The next sway initiated in the year 1820 and comprised mostly of Irish, British and German immigrants who caused the growth in the westward areas of the country. From about 1880 until 1914 the third wave started which assimilated people first from Western and Northern Europe, and later on from Eastern and Southern Europe. Chinese laborers were recruited alongside these European starting from late 1840 till the middle of 1880 for the purpose building the railroads of the West and to work in California and Hawaii and. After the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Filipino and Japanese people seized their position until the 1907 “Gentlemen's Agreement” between Japan and the United States put an end to relocation from Japan (Passel, 2006).

Immigrants came to United States for commercial purposes. America was a country of opportunities for poor Europeans. America also required labor force for its developing industry. Without the huge number of immigrants, it was impossible for America to develop and grow.

Apart from the benefits it provided to the ...