Document 17: Immigration

Immigration has been a significant issue in the American experience since the early days of the Republic. The wave of immigration that began in the 1840s gained renewed momentum following the Civil War and continued throughout the remainder of the 19th century. Europeans tended to dominate the immigrant pool entering the eastern shores of the United States. The selection below provides a brief snapshot and comparison of the source and numbers of European immigrants entering the country in a partial two-year span in the 1890s. Although the pace of immigration in this particular period had slowed for some nationalities, the numbers nonetheless speak to a continued steady stream of persons seeking a fresh start and new opportunity in the United States.

The stream of immigrants does not quite equal that of last year. In April, 1892, there came into the country 90,595 people; in April this year there came 75,261. So for the four months ending with April, the arrivals last year were 188,599, and this year 145,299. In certain nationalities there has been quite a falling off; for example, the following figures are for the four months of last year and this year:

The arrivals from Italy are somewhat greater, having risen from 24,969 to 26,422, and those from the United Kingdom have increased from 28,103 to 33,624.

Source: “Immigration in April,’’ Manufacturer and Builder (Vol. 25, No. 7, July 1893), 143.