英语国家概况之美国.doc

Chapter 14
Population, Race and Ethnic Groups

The United States of America, with a population of 255,5 million in 1992, is the third most populous country in the world after China and India.
Immigration accounts for a major source of population growth.
% 20 million
immigants
1992
million
Came to USA
During the 1980s
%
In the Western
Foreign-born
%
In the Northeast
Foreign-born
%
In the Midwest
Foreign-born
%
In the South
Foreign-born
The United States had a more or less open-door policy to immigrants from independence until the 1960s. Ellis Island of New York was an important immigration reception spot in the 1890s.
About 77% of the population in the United States lived in more than 283 city areas in 1988.
21 big cities with a population of over 2 million.
New York
18 million
In 1990
Los Angeles
million
In 1990
Chicago
million
In 1990
San Francisco
million
In 1990
philadelphia
million
In 1990

The Untied States has been known as a nation of immigrants. The first immigrants in American history came from England and herlands(荷兰人).
Some running away from religious and political persecution
ing as adventures from the Old World(Europe) to seek a better life
Some as indentured servants who had to work for a fixed term for their masters to repay the cross-Atlantic fare and debts
The largest immigration movement began from 1815. between 1815 and 1917, no fewer than 30 million people, form every corner of Europe, made their way to the USA. They came in a series of waves.
The first of these waves began in the mid 1810s, grew during the 1830s and 40s and reached the highest point in 1845.
The second wave coverd the period between 1860 and 1890.
The third wave, the largest of the three waves, bringing to the Untited States a total of 15 million immigrants between 1890 and 1914, was drawn very largely from Austria-Hungary, Italy, Russia, Greece, Rumania an