There is a clear and definite connection between Europe and the United States as well as Canada that goes straight into the earliest settlements in the New World. Not including needless to say Native Americans, Europeans were those to first colonize and develop these areas, and a lot in the culture that is now the U. S. and Canada, from the religions, court system, language and other aspects of society can be traced to their European roots.
While the Spanish had been the first ones to maintain a permanent profile in what would end up being the United States, in 2009 16.7% of USA citizens declared themselves for having German descent, followed by 11.8% Irish, 9% English along with 6.4% Italian. Those statistics are likely understated, particularly among the British demography, because they have been in the United States such a long time they simply see themselves as "Americans". But although America has always considered itself a melting pot, those statistics represent virtually 50 % all immigrants who report themselves to have European heritage. That obviously results in a strong association.
It really is intriguing to note the percentage of foreign-born Europeans in the US has decreased rather significantly, but only in the last 30 to 40 years. By 1850 the proportion with European-born individuals living in America was an incredible 92% of those born not in the US. This just decreased moderately into the 20th century, but then began to drop quickly, and in 2010 European born people represented only 12% of the entire foreign born population. So the European heritage will be the lengthiest one but now has tapered off and the majority of Europeans are generally multigenerational.
European immigrants will essentially become traced in three eras. The earliest had been the colonists, and they were largely English, Scottish, and Welsh along with Irish. For the greatest part they were Protestants, as were those German immigrants who settled in the Mid-Atlantic States. The French concentrated within Louisiana and Canada and the Spanish were more dominant in the Southwest as well as in Florida.
The next group started about 1820 and basically lasted until about 1890. These folks had been from Sweden, Denmark and Britain, but there were also a large number of Irish and Germans, and these people started the major presence in the USA of Catholicism. These represent the immigrants that really drove the population increase within the Midwest in addition to Western United States, with numerous Irish also locating within the East.
What is considered the final wave of European Americans started in the mid-1890s and extended right into the 20th century. Although there continued to be several Irish in these numbers, most likely because of the ongoing civil strife within Ireland during the time, it was when we saw the big flow of those from the Mediterranean and Eastern European regions. With them these folks brought their cultures of cuisine and music which currently helps to make the United States such an interesting place. However we of European ancestry still really like to return to get a look at where our ancestors came from.
While the Spanish had been the first ones to maintain a permanent profile in what would end up being the United States, in 2009 16.7% of USA citizens declared themselves for having German descent, followed by 11.8% Irish, 9% English along with 6.4% Italian. Those statistics are likely understated, particularly among the British demography, because they have been in the United States such a long time they simply see themselves as "Americans". But although America has always considered itself a melting pot, those statistics represent virtually 50 % all immigrants who report themselves to have European heritage. That obviously results in a strong association.
It really is intriguing to note the percentage of foreign-born Europeans in the US has decreased rather significantly, but only in the last 30 to 40 years. By 1850 the proportion with European-born individuals living in America was an incredible 92% of those born not in the US. This just decreased moderately into the 20th century, but then began to drop quickly, and in 2010 European born people represented only 12% of the entire foreign born population. So the European heritage will be the lengthiest one but now has tapered off and the majority of Europeans are generally multigenerational.
European immigrants will essentially become traced in three eras. The earliest had been the colonists, and they were largely English, Scottish, and Welsh along with Irish. For the greatest part they were Protestants, as were those German immigrants who settled in the Mid-Atlantic States. The French concentrated within Louisiana and Canada and the Spanish were more dominant in the Southwest as well as in Florida.
The next group started about 1820 and basically lasted until about 1890. These folks had been from Sweden, Denmark and Britain, but there were also a large number of Irish and Germans, and these people started the major presence in the USA of Catholicism. These represent the immigrants that really drove the population increase within the Midwest in addition to Western United States, with numerous Irish also locating within the East.
What is considered the final wave of European Americans started in the mid-1890s and extended right into the 20th century. Although there continued to be several Irish in these numbers, most likely because of the ongoing civil strife within Ireland during the time, it was when we saw the big flow of those from the Mediterranean and Eastern European regions. With them these folks brought their cultures of cuisine and music which currently helps to make the United States such an interesting place. However we of European ancestry still really like to return to get a look at where our ancestors came from.
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