“We were told that the streets of America were paved with gold. Upon arriving, we found that the streets were not paved with gold, nor paved at all, and that we were expected to pave them.”
--Italian Immigrant circa 1890
Between
1607 and
1915, the desires of immigrants, and what they received in
America both changed. From about 1607 to the late
1700’s travel between the old and new world was a matter of
exploration and
colonization, with intent to
exploit new lands (and new
riches). These early pioneers in the
new world often found riches; however, not without
hardship and sometimes, death. Beginning in the early
1800’s, America experienced a massive immigration movement, from much of Europe. Between 1800 and
1924 fifty-million immigrants left Europe, and went to
America in search of a better lifestyle. In some
cases immigrants received just that, more work, at higher
pay, and better living conditions; however, life for
immigrants in America was not ideal. Many immigrants faced problems in their workplaces, as well as
hostility.
In the early
1600’s immigration into America was a matter of exploration and colonization in order to increase mercantilism for their home country, as well as fleeing the religious persecution in many European countries. Many early explorers went to the new world in order to find
raw materials to bring back to their mother country. The same was true for many early colonization efforts in the
1600’s.
Southern colonies were
expected to grow
tobacco to
send back to their home country. These southern colonies were not nearly as successful as the New English colonies, which were populated by immigrants who came to
America seeking religious freedom, which was not granted in many
European countries until much
later. As
opposed to Southern settlers (who sought riches through raw materials), which was colonized primarily by men, the
Northern colonies were settled by entire families who left
Europe together in search of a more stable religious life. The result of this difference led to hard
ship,
suffering, and
death for unsuccessful
southern colonists, and a somewhat more prosperous
life for many families in the New English colonies. Immigrants between 1607 and
1800 were coming to the new world in search of either
raw materials for their home
country, or
religious freedom. In most cases,
mercantilist colonization resulted in hardship and often death for colonists. However, those immigrants seeking religious freedom were pleased to learn that they could worship freely in the new
world.
Beginning in the early
1800’s immigrants came to America in search of a higher standard of living, which was spurred by famine,
poor harvest, and various wars in much of Europe. The
potato famine in Ireland, and poor harvests in other areas of Europe led to increased immigration to America, as did political and religious oppression. Immigrants came to America in search of better jobs, at higher pay, which in
many cases, they found, because America was in the midst of an Industrial Revolution. Due to increased
industrialization in America, and therefore more factories, there were many factory jobs available to immigrants. Due to the tyrannical rule of many central
European monarchs, political disturbances would be
followed by a
tightened grip on society from European kings. This oppression
led to increased migration from
Europe to America. However, immigrants
rarely received
exactly what they desired. Immigrants who received jobs in factories were faced with long hard hours, poor and unsafe working conditions, and often meager pay. Immigrants were also slow to accept American ways, and accepted low wages. Other factory workers would loose their jobs to immigrants who would work for less, which lead to hostility towards immigrants.
Immigration from the early 1800’s to early 1900’s was
spurred by a desire for a higher standard of living, free of the
political oppression which they found in Europe.
The
changes experienced between
1607 and 1915 in what immigrants desired in their new lives in
America, was a result of prior hardships in their home countries in Europe. Religious oppression and monarchial
desire for raw materials in order to perpetuate mercantilism led to most early migration between 1607 and 1820.
Political oppression, and a search for better jobs and
higher standards of living led most colonists to America between 1820 and 1915. When arriving in America; however, immigrants often were surprised to find that life in America would be filled with hardships and
plight. Early southern settlers in the 1600’s were faced with
difficult planting conditions, and many
died. Later, in the
1800’s immigrants in search of better jobs were
faced with
unsafe working conditions in
factories, and low wages. Also, new
immigrants were confronted by older immigrants, often of different
ethnic origin. The desires of immigrants and what they actually received in America changed
dramatically between 1607 and 1915.
If you notice any glaring factual errors, please let me know via /msg.