MIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES: THE IMPACT ON PEOPLE AND PLACES

How does migration affect the lives of people and the character of places? Vocabulary: Emigrate. Immigrate, Push, Pull, Migration Streams. ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Year Founding of the United States (1700’s) Late 1800’s 1960’s- present time Where from (mostly)? Northern Europe Eastern & Southern Europe Latin American & Asia Why immigrate? Escaping poverty or hunger Refugees fleeing war/persecution Opportunity THREE WAVES OF IMMIGRATION

Type of PushExample PoliticalWar – creates political refugees EnvironmentalDrought, natural disasters EconomicPoverty – This is the most common push factor. PUSH FACTORS

Type of PullExample Family Desire to unite divided families Education Better schools for children Quality-of-Life People searching for a better life for themselves and their children. Searching for the “American Dream.” Safety, Jobs, Food, Housing, Health Care. PULL FACTORS

IMMIGRATION’S AFFECT ON U.S. ImpactExample Jobs Highly educated and skilled: work as doctors, professors, & computer programmers, etc… Low skills: Farmers, cab drivers, house cleaners, restaurant workers, etc… “Take our jobs” v. Fill jobs native born Americans do not want. Taxes Immigrants who pay taxes – support public services (schools, libraries, health clinics, etc… Immigrants who need services – language classes/translators, assistance (free health care) Immigrants cost too much v. benefits of immigration worth the cost. Cultural Introduce Americans to different ways of life, foods, celebrations, etc…