home

Immigration By: Amanda Jakeman

Immigration is the act of coming to a foreign country to live.[1] People immigrate for many reasons, starvation, to adventure, to escape unbearable family situations, to reunite with loved ones, the freedom, religious beliefs, wars, revolutions, and political unrest.[2] Sometimes people immigrate against their own free will; for example, the blacks in the 1500’s to the 1800’s were shipped to Europe as slaves and had no say in the matter.[3] There are times when convicts are moved to another country because of over crowding.[4] People will often times move for their profession, such as, doctors, nurses, engineers, and scientists.[5] The main reason for immigration is the want for a better job, better land, and a better life.[6] Immigrating cannot always be a good thing and some people end up returning home because they find adjusting to their new country too difficult.[7] Many people immigrate and stay for a short period and then return home for many reasons.[8] These reasons can include school, a job, or marriage, and if they lose their job, become divorced/widowed, or graduate.[9] Although, sometimes, after time most immigrants, especially their children begin to adapt to a new culture.[10] Many immigrants settle in a community made up of people from their Native land or village, they keep their old customs and learn little about the new country’s culture, language, and values.[11] Immigrants who are planning on staying permanently that have a similar background usually interact more with the new society and adapt quicker than others.[12] People that plan on staying permanently usually try focus on finding a job and supporting their children with education and opportunities that were not available in their Native land.[13]

[1] Encyclopedia World Book, 2010 ed. Rev., s.v. “Immigration”. [2] Ibid [3] Ibid [4] Ibid [5] Ibid [6] Ibid [7] Ibid [8] Ibid [9] Ibid [10] Ibid [11] Ibid [12] Ibid [13] Ibid

The heaviest immigration worldwide took place from the early 1800’s to the Great Depression (1930’s).[1] In this period about sixty million people moved to a new land.[2] The most common immigration route led from Europe to the United States, but many people moved to Canada and the United States for the rich prairie land.[3] Most people that came to Canada immigrated from the United States and the United Kingdom.[4] Even though Canada had many immigrants coming from the United Kingdom and the United States, the French and British were the nationalities that colonized Canada.[5] From 1850-1930, about 6.5 million people immigrated to Canada and in the late 1800’s the Chinese were brought over seas to help build the Canadian Pacific Railway.[6] However, after the railway was complete, Canada didn’t want newly arriving Chinese immigrants, so to discourage this, they put a heavy tax on all new Chinese immigrants.[7] In 1923, Canada no longer allowed Chinese immigrants.[8] Emigration means to leave one country and settle in another; this relieves over crowding in a country.[9] When people emigrate there is a chance the country may lose many people with valuable skills.[10] Nations that are receiving the immigrants may gain valuable workers, but they may have trouble providing the immigrants with jobs, education, social services, and even housing.[11] Some immigrants acquire skills in their new country and some even establish business trade links with their homeland.[12] Some immigrants don’t come with all their family and if they become permanent residents, they send money to the family that was left behind in their homeland.[13] In the early 2000’s, Canada received over 240,000 immigrants a year.[14] Over half the people that moved to Canada in the 2000’s were Asians, Chinese (since they were now allowed to immigrate there again), and refugees from the Vietnam War.[15] Canada accepts fewer immigrants than the United States does, but a larger percentage of its population is foreign born.[16] Today, in Canada, immigrants are allowed and accepted regardless of their ancestry, race, religion, or sex.[17]

[1] Ibid [2] Ibid [3] Ibid [4] Ibid [5] Ibid [6] Ibid [7] Ibid [8] Ibid [9] Ibid [10] Ibid [11] Ibid [12] Ibid [13] Ibid [14] Ibid [15] Ibid [16] Ibid [17] Ibid