Causes of Migration

How Demography Changed

During the Modern Era, much of the migration can be attributed to the Industrial Revolution. The rise of industrialization in some countries caused a huge influx of foreigners, many seeking work. The population grew massively, with the population and birth rate rising. In turn, however, this would have affected their home countries as well. The home countries would experience a sudden decline in workforce and general population.

For example, Ireland during the Great Famine saw a population loss of approximately 2 million, half of those emigrants seeking a better life. The effect on the island was devastating; the population, 200 years later, has still not recovered. The sudden loss of workers was a huge blow to the economy. The famine’s effects also persist in the US, as many East Coast cities, particularly Boston and Albany, have huge Irish-American populations. Similarly, the West Coast saw a major influx of Chinese immigrants during the 1848 Gold Rush, and the effects are seen even today in the large Asian population in Northern California. Unlike Ireland, it does not appear to have had a greater effect on their homelands due to the high populations seen today, making the effects of the mass migration less noticeable or affecting.

Food Production's affect on Migration

During the 18th and 19th centuries, a new agricultural revolution occurred that increased food productivity and improved agricultural technology. During this time, things like the mechanical reaper were invented, followed by the combine harvester later on. Thanks to this, food scarcity was greatly reduced, particularly in industrialized societies, leading to higher population growth. Less industrialized societies might not have experienced these changes until later on, leaving them behind on the demographic transition until their time came.

Coming back to the Ireland example, a major reason why people moved to the US was to feed themselves. People were starving to death left and right, leading to a 1 million death toll from starvation. For many, particularly farmers directly affected by the famine, it was migrate or die.