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Question:

diosara
diosara
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What kind of new economic opportunities drew migrants and immigrants to the west in the second half of the nineteenth century?

Help me please :-)

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Posted by diosara on Tuesday December 16, 2008 at 10:10 AM and tagged with economic opportunities, history, immigrants, migrants, nineteenth century.

Answers:

  1. poo02003
    poo02003 Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    There were many reasons that migrants and immigrants moved towards the west, and advancement in economic opportunities was one reason. Many immigrants were apart of the building of the transcontinental railroad which provided pay and work. Most of the immigrants were Chinese and Irish, and they helped lay the railroad that connected the US on the west and the east. Many also left their homes as farmers and moved west to become cattle ranchers and sheep herders. Farming was difficult in the mid-west and the west due to the dry weather, so many switched to cattle ranching and sheep. Another reason, is they were enthralled with the idea of the gold rush and many left to find gold in California and Nevada in hopes to make it rich quick. 

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    Posted by poo02003 on Tuesday December 16, 2008 at 12:40 PM