U.S. Immigration

Subject: Social Studies  ·  Grade level: 8th

How waves of immigrants shaped — and were shaped by — the United States. The United States is built largely from immigration. Each wave brought new languages,

In this lesson

• Early waves (1600s–1860s)
• The Great Wave (1880–1924)
• Modern era (1965–today)

Key terms

Push factor

Reason people leave home: famine, war, poverty, persecution.

Pull factor

Reason a destination attracts: jobs, freedom, family, safety.

Nativism

Favoring people born in a country over immigrants.

U.S. Immigration lesson on BrightPath

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