Regents Prep: Us History: Immigration & Migration: Era of 'Old' Immigration

The earliest waves of settlers to the Americas, up through the first half of the 19th century, constitute the era of 'old' immigration. There are some distinctions between those settlers who came prior to the Revolutionary War and those who choose to settle in the newly free America, however they share many common traits. This page looks at who these early immigrants were, why they came, what issues they faced, and the impact they had.