User:Averiekatin8

The New Wave The second wave was comprised mostly of Southwestern Europeans and Asians. Most of them left their homes to escape economic hardships or persecution based on politics or religion. In many cases, the working man of a household left to get a better job and America and provide for the family in his homeland. Occasionally he would eventually bring his family over with him, but he usually left and went back home. Most of these immigrants were not Caucasian and did not speak English, they also came from a wide variety of cultures and religions, greatly adding to American diversity. The new wave's diversity was taken a bit harshly by the Americans, but they learned to accept their cultures. Russians tended to live in New York, Pennsylvania, and California. the Italians drifted toward New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Louisiana. The Old Wave Known as the "old wave," the first people to immigrate in mass were mostly Germans and Irish. British, Scottish, and other people of Anglo-Saxon heritage also came in this wave. Most were Caucasian and already spoke English. Their reasons for coming included famine, economic hardships, and politics. Families generally came to America together, instead of one person finding a job here and providing for his family back home. Most of these people practiced some form of the Christian religion, so there wasn't much cultural impact. The Chinese, while they fit in more with the "new wave" mostly came to America with the old wave. their difference in culture, religion, and race led to them being discriminated against, and congress even passed a law limiting the amount of Chinese immigrants that could come to the United States. Many Germans settled in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa, which became known as the "German belt." The Irish tended to live in New York. The Present Wave The third and final wave, which still brings newcomers to America to this day is known as the "present wave." These immigrants come from all over the world, but mostly Latin America, Asia, the Middle-East, and India. This wave only includes those who come here legally, illegal immigrants do not count as a part of it. Many of them come here to find jobs or escape from oppressive governments. All sorts of religions and cultures are found throughout this wave and it is representative of the modern diversity of backgrounds and beliefs found among Americans. After having already experienced two waves of different cultures, Americans don't mind immigrants usually any more. Occasionally there will be racism against Hispanics or people from the Middle-East, claiming that they are "illegal Mexicans" or "terrorists" respectively, but most of them are good people looking for an honest life. Hispanics tend to settle in the southern states of Arizona, California, and the like, but those from countries with no land access to America who come by plane or boat settle in whichever state they like.