Some 5 million German immigrants also come to the U.S., many of them making their way to the Midwest to buy farms or settle in cities including Milwaukee, St. This first major wave of immigration lasts until the Civil War.īetween 18, the Irish-many of them Catholic-account for an estimated one-third of all immigrants to the United States. Immigration from Western Europe turns from a trickle into a gush, which causes a shift in the demographics of the United States. Irish Immigrant Waveġ815: Peace is re-established between the United States and Britain after the War of 1812.
The English are the largest ethnic group among the 3.9 million people counted, though nearly one in five Americans are of African heritage.
