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Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

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Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#11

It is interesting to see where immigrants settled in the 1800s. Primarily the North and West. Extremely few in the South. I assume this is related to slavery. These are also the most racist states. I’ve always assumed that was related to slavery, which it probably primarily is, but now I’m wondering if a bit of it can also be connected to the paucity of immigrants.

In summary: racism and slavery aren't the answers to all historical questions. Iirc, most of the immigrants of the 1800s came from northern Europe. Most will be happier with a similar climate. The growth of the South East didn't really take hold until air conditioning was popularized in the 1950s. Racism is endemic throughout North America (especially if you consider indigenous/native, or Irish a race). Slavery enabl…

>Racism is endemic throughout North America

Where do you think racism isn't endemic?

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#12

How are they putting Connecticut next to Maryland on this infographic smh

Totally with you on this. I think the grid they used for the state facets is overly simplified. I use geofacets package from R to create such maps: https://dataviz.school/posts/2020-12-02-election-donuts-pics...

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#13
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In summary: racism and slavery aren't the answers to all historical questions. Iirc, most of the immigrants of the 1800s came from northern Europe. Most will be happier with a similar climate. The growth of the South East didn't really take hold until air conditioning was popularized in the 1950s. Racism is endemic throughout North America (especially if you consider indigenous/native, or Irish a race). Slavery enabl…

The reverse is probably true, however. If there had been more immigration to the South over these two centuries, bigoted attitudes would have likely been less tenacious.

Possibly, but a big factor in immigration is jobs. The north has been industrialized for a long time, so there was opportunity there for immigrants. The south, focused on agriculture, wouldn't be an attractive place to settle unless you were already wealthy enough to buy land (and slaves to work the land, in those days).

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In summary: racism and slavery aren't the answers to all historical questions. Iirc, most of the immigrants of the 1800s came from northern Europe. Most will be happier with a similar climate. The growth of the South East didn't really take hold until air conditioning was popularized in the 1950s. Racism is endemic throughout North America (especially if you consider indigenous/native, or Irish a race). Slavery enabl…

>Racism is endemic throughout North America Where do you think racism isn't endemic?

I would guess based on what little I know of human history that it's a human trait but the response bwas focused on immigration to the US

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#15

It is interesting to see where immigrants settled in the 1800s. Primarily the North and West. Extremely few in the South. I assume this is related to slavery. These are also the most racist states. I’ve always assumed that was related to slavery, which it probably primarily is, but now I’m wondering if a bit of it can also be connected to the paucity of immigrants.

It’s about distance. The northeast is closer to Europe.

Isn't that where the racism came from?

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#16
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In summary: racism and slavery aren't the answers to all historical questions. Iirc, most of the immigrants of the 1800s came from northern Europe. Most will be happier with a similar climate. The growth of the South East didn't really take hold until air conditioning was popularized in the 1950s. Racism is endemic throughout North America (especially if you consider indigenous/native, or Irish a race). Slavery enabl…

The reverse is probably true, however. If there had been more immigration to the South over these two centuries, bigoted attitudes would have likely been less tenacious.

Given the large protests against desegregation in schools in Boston Mass, the formation of ethnic gangs in NYC, etc. I'd say you are very wrong.

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s about distance. The northeast is closer to Europe.

Isn't that where the racism came from?

Before 20th century, very few Europeans ever saw anyone of a different race.

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#19

It is interesting to see where immigrants settled in the 1800s. Primarily the North and West. Extremely few in the South. I assume this is related to slavery. These are also the most racist states. I’ve always assumed that was related to slavery, which it probably primarily is, but now I’m wondering if a bit of it can also be connected to the paucity of immigrants.

Racism was not the factor discouraging 1800s immigration (which largely was from Scots-Irish and other European backgrounds similar to the original settlers of the South) -- it was the climate, agricultural economy, and the fact that its elites preferred slaves over hired labor. The elite plantation owner class notoriously looked down on lower class whites, and the origins of anti-black American racism in part came from the animosity of workers who felt that they were forced to compete with slave labor. Not everyone hated though, some of the non-owner trades class at the time felt more kinship with the slaves than they did with the owners because that was who they were more commonly interacting with on a day-to-day basis when doing business and trading goods.

The North arguably was more racist towards those Irish immigrants at the time, because the North was dominated by English Protestants (WASPs) while the South had roots in being from the poorer parts of the British Isles, which is the origin of the Southern accent.

Re: Where Are Americans Born? An Analysis of U.S. Census Data from 1850 – 2020

#20

It is interesting to see where immigrants settled in the 1800s. Primarily the North and West. Extremely few in the South. I assume this is related to slavery. These are also the most racist states. I’ve always assumed that was related to slavery, which it probably primarily is, but now I’m wondering if a bit of it can also be connected to the paucity of immigrants.

It’s about distance. The northeast is closer to Europe.

It’s not just the NE. It’s across the entire far north and the entirety of the west (from California to Colorado).

I can understand the areas that border the Pacific Ocean, but what was up with the high immigration to desert states like Nevada, Arizona, Utah, etc.? Who would want to immigrate from (presumably) the green British Isles to the desert? Western Oregon and Washington would be more their climate.

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