Introduction to Immigration
Throughout the history of the world, people have left their homeland in search of something better. This is called emigration. When they arrive to their destination, they are immigrants. Immigration has occured since the first great empire, and will probably continue for as long as humans walk the earth.
Why Immigrate?
PushMany times people are forced to leave their native lands because of religious or ethnic persecution, economic depression, agricultural failure, and corrupt governments. One such example was when Moses lead his people from Egypt, the land where they were enslaved. Another example was the exodus of the Native Americans from their homeland. More recently was the Palestinians being forced to leave Palestine as the United Nations put Israel in its place. In the examination of past forced immigration, one can see a trend that the world's most famous mass movements of people were caused because of a large push.
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PullThe other reason for people to migrate is the pull factor. When people look at a different country and see opportunity for wealth, power, or just a better life, they will often move. America offered many of these opportunities in the 1800's when gold was discovered in California. People were also attracted to the eastern coast of America because the cities were growing too fast and laborers were needed. There were too many jobs for the people in America, and not enough in other countries, so people immigrated to America to take advantage of the great economy.
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Focus
People migrated to America from Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia, China, and many other places in the 1800's, in search of a better life and better future for their children. These people were often looked down upon and despised. Employers treated many of them unfairly, and they often couldn't live "The American Dream." The Americans at the time thought the immigrants were bad for the country, but in reality immigrants shaped America, re-sculpting our government, economy, and even changing the way the common American thought.
Change and Continuity
Even today people think that immigrants cause economic problems, and that there should be more laws prohibiting them from staying in America. The Irish particularly were discriminated in the mid-1800's, much like Mexican immigrants today.