The Industrial Revolution had a very direct effect on immigration. This is due to the shortage of unskilled workers that existed in the United States after the Civil War. Cities in the northeastern United States were erupting with business and industry after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. They were, however, doomed by a shortage of laborers. To solve this issue, politicians made the path to American citizenship easier for Europeans. Millions of immigrants arrived on the shores of the United States between 1885 and 1920 to work in American factories.

The Industrial Revolution also caused a spike in the populations of Europe. The population boom came at the same time that agriculture was becoming more commercial and mechanized. The implication of this was that far fewer farmers were needed in Europe to create far more goods. The rural laborers were displaced, lost their homes, and were met with famine and disease. Suddenly, emigrating to the United States became a viable solution for them.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect immigration and the economy?

The Industrial Revolution affected immigration and the economy. When the Industrial Revolution began, our economy experienced growth. More products were being produced at a faster rate by the factories than were being produced when the products were made by hand. As more products were produced, more workers were needed. Some people moved from the countryside to the cities to get jobs in the factories. Other people came to the United States to work.

There were stories throughout Europe how the United States was a land of opportunity. Many Europeans were struggling economically and decided to come to the United States in pursuit of a better life economically, as well as politically and religiously. Since there were plenty of jobs available in the factories, many immigrants began to work there. Unfortunately, many immigrants didn’t see significant improvement economically because of the low pay. However, they did experience religious and political freedom. The increasing immigration to the United States also helped the economy grow. The immigrants not only provided the labor to do the work, they also bought products that were being manufactured. Thus, the Industrial Revolution helped both the economy and immigration to the United States grow.