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There is detailed demographic information on the United States because America is a relatively young country and the United Stares Constitution mandated a census be taken every 10 years (Article I, Section 2). There were several reasons for this, but one of the most important was that population determined representation in the House of Representatives. And even before the Civil War, the free population was prioritized. America had a population of over 330 million people (2020). This makes the United States the third most populous country in the world, after China and India. The united States is a rare industrialized country that has a growing population -- something like 0.8 percent annually. The population increase is primarily due to immigration. The American population nearly quadrupled during the 20th century, increasing at about 1.3% annually from about 76 million (1900) to 281 million (2000). The population along with industrial growth. This meant that America increased from a small unimportant colonial outpost at its creation to the most productive Western country (late-19th country). Much of the history of the 20th century was determined by the simple fact that Britain understood and recognized what it meant and Germany did not--despite the huge influx of German immigrants to America (19th century). America reached 200 million people (1967) and 300 million people (2006). Foreign-born immigration is responsible for about one-third of the recent population increase. The population growth in recent years has been the fastest among minorities. Today half of all American children under the age of 18 years are ethnic minorities. American demographics have changes as part of its expansion west from the Atlantic seaboard. This has reflected both terrain and climate differences. There are huge variations between the land east and West of the Mississippi River. A major exception to this pattern is the tendency of population to cluster along the Western seaboard, emulating the pattern along the Eastern seaboard. Technology is also a factor. The development of home air conditioning after World War II has resulted in population increases in the Southwest and especially the previously sparsely populated Southwest. Economics is another major factor affecting population. America began as British agricultural colonies with laws restricting manufacturing. Industrialization began slowly in the early-19th century, but was underway by the time of the Civil War (1860s). By the turn of the 20th century, America was the greatest industrial power on earth. This not only had a huge impact on demographics, leading to the growth of major cities and rising income levels, but would fundamentally shape modern history. Most Americans still lived in rural areas until after World War I like the father and sons here (figure 1). At about the same time this photograph was taken, Henry Ford's Model-T was rolling off the assembly line and were beginning to change both rural and urban life. It was not until 1920 that America made the transition to a majority of the population living in urban areas. Ethnicity has been a major factor in American demographics. The population was largely British and British culture (including law, economics, and language) predominated as America expanded, even when large numbers of Germans and other Europeans began arriving. The primary issue involving ethnicity was a first slavery, an issue the framers of the Constitution side stepped. It was an issue that could mot be resolved by normal political processes leasing to the Civil War (1861-65). America became more diverse with the arrival of Catholics, first the Irish (1840s) and then the Italians (1870s). Jews began adding to the American ethnic stew as a result of increasing Tsarist oppression in Russian (1880s). The American population continued to be primarily European ethnicities until immigration laws were changed and illegal migration became increasingly important (1965). Ethnicity and race are a major factor in an important factor in American society. The modern Democratic Party began to form after the Civil War and organizing immigrant ethnic minorities in the growing cities. Today the core issue of the Democratic Party is race with much of the Party endorsing Critical Race Theory (CRT). Since 1965 there have been a steady rise in non-European ethnicities. A central role in American development has been the rise of the middle class. The United States had the largest middle class in the world and at the time of World War had a middle-class comparable to that of all of Europe, depending on how it is defined. That was accomplished by both population growth and the ability of America's dynamic capitalist economy to bring much of the working-class into the middle-class. The status of the middle class since the 1970s has become a major issue in American politics.
The first inhabitants of the Americas ae believed to have aarrived in the Americas (15,000 to 20,000 years ago). Arelatively small number of Siberan hunters crossed the Beraing Sea Ice Age land bridge. And population growth was slow. Geographic isolation was a factor. Imprtant population increases only after Europeans dscvered the Americas (1492) and began to settle (16th century). This was primarily the Portuguese and Spanish in what is now Latin America. Acentury lkater, England and France began settling North Amrica. The numbers were still rlativelt small. The Ameican population was only abour millin Europeans at the time of the Revolution (1770s). This changed in the next century where domestic populatin growth was increased with massive Euopean immigration after the Civil War (1861-65), mostly from Europe. This changed again (20th century). After World War I (1914-18), the United Statesrestricted immigration and establishe national quotas locking in European immigration. This and urbanization reduced populatoin growth rates. The United States changed its immigration laws opening immigration to a wider world population (1965). This trend continued (21st century). There was a huge blip of illgal immigration when President Biden opened the southern border. mostly for migrants from Latin America (2021-25).
Hominid specisviolved over millions of years, rising in Africa and populatig the Eurasian land mass. Pre-history is essentially the stone/neolithiuc era, but this is a little condusing bcause the indigenous poplation were a stone-age people well into the Neolithic/Stone Age ended which of course is why they fared so poorly when the Europeans arrived in what is now the United States (17th century). The first inhabitants of the Americas are believed to have arrived in the Americas (20,000 to 15,000 BP (18,000-13,000 C). There is some debate as to the dating among anthropologists. This was well before the advent of agriculture and civilization. Siberia hunters Ice Age Bering Land Bridge to Alaka, probably living in Bringia before the Ice Age Ice Age ice sheets retreated. Exactly when is still debated among anthropologists. The size of the ndiugenous population in North America is unknown. There are wide ranging estimates. The poulation may hae totaled around 250,000 people (10,000 BC). Old World and New World populations had nor knowledge of each other. The independent invention of agriculture in Meso-America and the Andes led to population inveases (about 5,000 BC).
This influenced North America tribesin what is now the United States, but no great civizations developed. Because the Siberian hynters entered the Americas before thev invetion agricuture abd doestcation of farm animals, indigenous peoples did not develop resisance to a range of infectuoos diseases that plagues Old World populations.
Throughout ancient times, the l World and New Wold contiunued to develop totaly indepedently of each other. The population of the America is unknown, but tyhere are estimates. Thepopulaion if what is now the United State may have been totaled some 650,000 people (1st cenury AD). Indigenous peoples varied greatly. Some wee pure hunter-gathers, but others practice varying degrees of agriculture adopting crops developed in Meso-America such as corn. This helped invease population levels. .
Many advanced civiizatios developed in the Aericas centered in the Andes and Mesco-America. They gave tise to large opulkations which in some cases were impacte bt deletion of resources. The Teotauacan and the Maya are examples. Whie no advaved civilizations developed in wgat s now the United States, the crops they develoed, especially corn, reached North America. what is now the United States. Thiswas especially true of the Mississippi watershed. The most imprtnt settlemnt was Cahokia in modern sotheastern Illinois near St Louis (c1050–1350 AD). Some 20,000 people priarily agricukturists may have lived there. The population in North Ameica contunued to grow. Anthropologists estimate that the population in what is now the United States may have reached 1.7 million people (15th century). The Old World and New World were still largely searate. But there actually were contacts in North America. The Vijings reached Labrador. In addition Potuguese fishermen operated off the Grand Banks andset up temprary onshore camps. These contacts did not, however, wthe wider European conciouness. The Greeks had worked out thgat Earth ws a shere, but most medieval Europeans beieved in a flat Earth and this was relected in Eurean cathograogy uyil the voyakse of Colunbus and others and finally settle by Magellan. .
Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean (1492). The Spanish primarily stayed in te Spanish Main (Caribbeam). Columbus and other Erieans exopane Voyages of Discovery. Europeas deciated indigenous poulations through cruelty and exposing them to European diseases for which they had no immunity. Thenumber of Spanush settlets were at first very small and liited to the Caribbean. Te Portuguese who were movig south aling the cioast o Africa discvered Brazi, but we ae unsure just when. Neither encountered mnajor population centers (15th crntury).
The Spanish broke out of the Spaninish Main. Baboa reachedte Pacific (1513). Cortez founded andcconquered the Aztecs (1510s). Conquistadores poceeded to conuer te Inca in Peru (1530s). Other conquistadores conquered most of the rest of Latin America, except Brazik which was conquered by the Portguese. Other Europeans began to contest ilands in the Catibbean which proved very vauable becaise of sugar. Indigenous people diedfrom abuse an dusease whch let to the imprtation of captice Afrcans to work plantations. All of this took place south of the United States. The only exception was Florida. The Spanish founded St. Auhustine (1565). As European explorers, missonaries, conquistadores, and settlers began to map and claim areas in Latin America. Permnenbt settlements were established which today are major citis. Waves of infectuous disease began to decimate indigenous populations. The Spanish had two approached t the ndigenous ppulations. In areas where the advanced indienous civilization exisyed, the Soanish imposed he Ecomenda, essentally recreating the feudal susem. In areas whre the indienos population was less civilzed (the Southern Cone), they were largely destroyed. Durng the 16th century an estimated 85-90 percent of the indigenous population in Latin America perished. This was most pronnced in Lati Americ, but Nort America including what s now the United States was also affected. There are no precise statistics. Contact with the Europeans was limited north of Spanish control. It looks like something like half the population wsdestroyed. One study suggsts a decline from 1.9 to 0.8 million Native Americans.
The English began establishing perment settlements in North America (1607). YThis laid the doundation for thefuture United States. Unlike thSpanish, they found very little gold and silver. Rther profuctive economic enterprises were developed which in the north were based on famly farms. English genlemen found Janstown n Viginia (1607) and almost starved. The Pilgimses ounded Salem in Massacgusetts (1620). The srttlers wereleftlargely to their own evicesdurng the Engish Civil War (1642-51) and Cromwelian Commonwealt that followed.
Natve American agricultural practives helped them survive. Conflict soon develope between the setters and Native Americans. Many tribes wee eweakene by disease making it diuffcult toiresis Europaan icursions. This had begun before the settlers arrived. It is not cler if the disease cmefrom the Spanish in Latin Amrica or the Porugese fishgermen wirjing the Grand Banks. The populationm of the 13 colonies totale about 0.25 million by the end of the century, afigurethat did not include Native Americans. Esimtes of Native Ameriucns may have totaled 0.7 million. alrgiugh it is uncear what geogeaphicareas that covers.
The European settler populatio grew throughout the 18th century with steady if small annual increments of immigrants. The French and Indian War (1754-63) was a conflict with France over control of North America. The British defeated the French, but Canada with its French ppultion did not develop close relations with the 13 Atalntic Coast colonies. Differences with Britain led to the American Revolution (1776-83). One of the issues was British effots to keep the Amricas east of the Alegannies.
The Americas gained independence with a population of about 2.5 million. Another issue was that the British realised that expansion into the North American continent would mean that the Americanswoud eventually ounumber the Mother country. The British were determined to enforce a permanenbt colonial statusand a area reserved for Native Americans. The first official U.S. Census Bureau counted 3.9 million Americans (1790). With the British out of the picture, the Americns began pouring west across the Appalanchins.
The second Census reported a population of 5.3 million people (1800). Immigration continued albeit at low levels. The Industrial Revolution began in Britain (mid-18th century). America continued to be agricultural until after the first few decades. Connections with Britain help to fertilize the American Industrial Revolution. This meant an economic transition from an agraina society wih urbanization. We see a rapid expansion of the middle-class as well as incresing ed wages and impved working conduitions for the woorking-class. Life expectancy began to increase amd family decreased by the end of the century. The popuation steadiy increased to 23 million (1850). By this time the Industrial Revolution was well underway in America. It made a huge difference in both the Mexican War (1846-48) and ther Civil War (1861-65). Americawas on itsway to developing the greatst rail system in the world. Immigration had steadily continuted to America's growing poplation. After the Civil War the flood gates of European immigration opened up. Immigration rose to unprecedented levels.
The Census reported a population of 76 million people (1900). This time it included Native Americans. America’s population continued to grow during the early 20th century with huge levels of immigration, This only declined with World War I (1914-18). Not only was there the German U-boat threat. But the contries mmigrants were coming from, put cointrils in emigratuin as men wre baby needed for the hge armies needed to fight the War. The United States befan restricing immigration, establishing national quotas (1920s). America boomed during the 1920s, hard times impacted mericans during Deression (1930s). Birth rates declined. Americva's poplation was reported a population of 132 million (1940). That populaion and the enormou economy behind it was a major factor in the United States playijg a central role in saving Western Civilization during World War II (1939-45). The post-War recovery and boom led to a sharp increase in birth rates — a trend now descibed at the Baby Boom. Soldiers returning bome from the War and creating families, economic prosperity, and a cultural ethos lionizing family life fueld the Baby Boom. Some some 76 million babies arrived during the Baby Boom--now known as the Boomers. As the babby boom was ending . tghe Unted States made major changes in immigration policy. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, did away with national immigration quotas, this opened the way for more new Americans. Immigration thatno longerr priortorized Europe. This has been a major driver of population growth. The baby boom was followed by a period of lower birth rates, which remain on a downward trend. At the sam time, an aging population means death rates are projected to meet or exceed births.
The Cemsus reported a populatio of 331 million (2020). That was an all time hime, but it was not because of an invreasing birthrate. In fact the birthreate was declining. It was because it was because of immigration. There was a huge blip of illgal immigrtion when President Biden opened the southern border. mostly for migrants from Latin America (2021-25). This was an all-time high, but the growth rate was slowing down. The Census Bureau projected that diverse immigration will help to balance the effects of a declining birth birth rate and an aging population. Despite constant warnings of projected global population increase of nearly 2 billion people in the next 30 years, the U.S. population will probably peak at around is expected to peak at around 370 million (2080) and then decline rond ot at aboujt 365 million theend of the century. Some what unexpected is that world population is alsp peakin, but aittle slower than the U.S. popultion. It first becomes evident in Europe whre people in many countries are essentially no no longer having babies. But we also see it in prosperocountries outsude of Europe (Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). And now after China was seen to hiding dats, we now know hat the Chinese poulation had peaked at about 1.1 bilion and nt 1.4 billion. Some analus suggest an even lower figure. The dynamic here is both educating women and urbanzation. And of corse in China's case there was also the one child policy. India is now the nost poplated country, but will also inevitably be ffected by both edicting women and urbanization.
There is detailed demographic information on the United States because America is a relatively young country and the United Stares Constitution mandated a census be taken every 10 years (Article I, Section 2). There were several reasons for this, but one of the most important was that population determined representation in the House of Representatives. And this needed to be updated every decade as the country expanded and populatiion shifted from state to state. And notably before the Civil War, it was clear that otv was the northerrn free states that werev counry's engine of growth anv innovation. Something fioresseen by bthe founding fathers and why the country's free population was prioritized.
America had a population of over 330 million people (2020). This makes the United States the third most populous country in the world, after China and India. The United States is a rare industrialized country that has a growing population -- something like 0.8 percent annually. That population increase has been primarily due to immigration. The American population nearly quadrupled during the 20th century, increasing at about 1.3% annually from about 76 million (1900) to 281 million (2000). The population along with industrial growth meant that America increased from a small unimportant colonial outpost at its creation to the most productive Western country (late-19th country). America reached 200 million people (1967) and 300 million people (2006). Foreign-born immigration is responsible for about one-third of the recent population increase.
Much of the history of the 20th century was determined by the simple fact that Britain understood and recognized what America's dynamic economy meant and Germany did not--despite the huge influx of German immigrants to America (19th century). The history of the rest of the century was determuned by the showdiwn btewwn America economic (capitalism) and political (democracy) freedom with Soviet socialist totalitarianism. The simple fact is that in sharp contrast to what yiung people are being taught today, capitalism generates wealth nd prosperity while socialism destriys wealth condeming the population to want and limited life styles.
The population growth in recent years has been the fastest among minorities. Today half of all American children under the age of 18 years are ethnic minorities. The primary issue involving ethnicity was a first slavery, an issue the framers of the Constitution side stepped. It was an issue the Framers believed could be resolved by normal political processes. This was probanly true in 1787, but this findamentlly changed when Eli Whitney invented to the cottin gin, leading to a huge growth of the power of the South's Slave Power/Slaveocracy which meant that normal political pricesses no longer functione, leading inevyably to the Civil War (1861-65). America became more diverse with the arrival of Catholics, first the Irish (1840s) and then the Italians (1870s). Jews began adding to the American ethnic stew as a result of increasing Tsarist oppression in Russian (1880s). The American population continued to be primarily European ethnicities until immigration laws were changed and illegal migration became increasingly important (1965). Ethnicity and race are a major factor in an important factor in American society. The modern Democratic Party began to form after the Civil War and organizing immigrant ethnic minorities in the growing cities. Today the core issue of the Democratic Party is race with much of the Party endorsing Critical Race Theory (CRT). Since 1965 there have been a steady rise in non-European ethnicities. A central role in American development has been the rise of the middle class. The United States had the largest middle class in the world and at the time of World War had a middle-class comparable to that of all of Europe, depending on how it is defined. That was accomplished by both population growth and the ability of America's dynamic capitalist economy to bring much of the working-class into the middle-class. The status of the middle class since the 1970s has become a major issue in American politics
Gender studies has become popular inn American universities in recent years. But the professors engaged in these programs commonly present a distorted view of gender issues in America and the West in general. They ignore for example the natural 50/50 split in the population--a phenomenon prevalent for the West generally. This is not the norm around the world. Many Important societies attach much greater importance not only to male children, but the gender-based value of individuals. We see such practices as sati/suttee in India. The Chinese Communist one child policy led to the deaths of many female babies. This has left China and India with a large male bulge in the population pyramid. The West in general had never adopted such practices to any degree. Another feminist distortion is how they constantly focus on cultural and legal matters in America that restricted women's lives. Now while this is largely accurate and needs to be discussed, these same professors rarely mentioned that America (and the English-speaking people in general) was at the vanguard of the campaign for women's rights. This included a educational school system, women's admission to universities and the professions, and voting rights. The general trend with feminist professors is the very false comparison to modern times. The fair and scholarly valid comparison is a comparison to other contemporary countries and societies. It is telling that feminist professors in our great universities rarely do this--presumably because an honest assessment does not result in the desired anti-American outcome.
America's regions have been tradidionally defined along striuct geograophic terms: Northeast, Southeast, Mdwest, miorthwest and siouth west. American demographics have changes as part of its expansion west from the Atlantic seaboard. This has reflected both terrain and climate differences. There are huge variations between the land east and West of the Mississippi River. A major exception to this pattern is the tendency of population to cluster along the Western seaboard, emulating the pattern along the Eastern seaboard. Technology is also a factor. The development of home air conditioning after World War II has resulted in population increases in the Southwest and especially the previously sparsely populated Southwest. Several academics have sought to provide a more cultural approach. One such divide includes an attemot to define North American and not just thev United States. It includes nine nations (regions): New England, Quebec, the Foundary, Dixuiem, The Breadbasket, Ecotopia, Mex Anerica and the Islands. 【Garreau】 Another insightful view offers 11 destingishable cultures (regions): First Nation, Yankeedom, New Netherland, the Midlands, Tidewater, Greater Appalachia, Deep South, El Norte, the Left Coast, the Far West, and New France. 【Woodward】
Economics is another major factor affecting population. America began as British agricultural colonies with laws restricting manufacturing. Industrialization began slowly in the early-19th century, but was underway by the time of the Civil War (1860s). By the turn of the 20th century, America was the greatest industrial power on earth. This not only had a huge impact on demographics, leading to the growth of major cities and rising income levels, but would fundamentally shape modern history. Most Americans still lived in rural areas until after World War I like the father and sons here (figure 1). At about the same time this photograph was taken, Henry Ford's Model-T was rolling off the assembly line and were beginning to change both rural and urban life. It was not until 1920 that America made the transition to a majority of the population living in urban areas. Ethnicity has been a major factor in American demographics. The population was largely British and British culture (including law, economics, and language) predominated as America expanded, even when large numbers of Germans and other Europeans began arriving. The primary issue involving ethnicity was a first slavery, an issue the framers of the Constitution side stepped. It was an issue that could mot be resolved by normal political processes leasing to the Civil War (1861-65). America became more diverse with the arrival of Catholics, first the Irish (1840s) and then the Italians (1870s). Jews began adding to the American ethnic stew in a significant way as a result of increasing Tsarist oppression in the Russian Empire (1880s). The American population continued to be primarily European ethnicities until immigration laws were changed and illegal migration became increasingly important (1965). Ethnicity and race are a major factor in an important factor in American society. The modern Democratic Party began to form after the Civil War and organizing immigrant ethnic minorities in the growing cities. Today the core issue of the Democratic Party is race with much of the Party endorsing Critical Race Theory (CRT). Since 1965 there have been a steady rise in non-European ethnicities. A central role in American development has been the rise of the middle class. The United States had the largest middle class in the world and at the time of World War had a middle-class comparable to that of all of Europe, depending on how it is defined. That was accomplished by both population growth and the ability of America's dynamic capitalist economy to bring much of the working-class into the middle-class. The status of the middle class since the 1970s has become a major issue in American politics.
The population of what is now the United States until the 17th century was almost entirely Native Americans. The size of the native americabn population is not well established before the foundation of the Unites States and at first not include in censuses conducted every decade. The first European settlement was Spanish in what is now the southwest and Florida. This involved very small numbers of Spaniards who primarily settled the Central Highlands of Mexico, very few ventured as far north as the the current boundaries of the United States. Because of the exposure of these indigenous people to Europeans there was population collapse, especially noticeable in the northeaster area. Although there were no permanent English settlement until the 17th century, there was contact, primarily because of European fishing activity on the Grand Banks. This resulted in the spread of European diseases to which the native Americans had no immunity. This is one reason the Native Americans people could not effectively resist English colonization. The first permanent English colony was Jamestown in Virginia (1609 followed by Plymouth in Massachusetts (1620). The great bulk of the earl settlers were of English origins, but included a smattering of Dutch, Scottish and German settlers. The American population grew from an estimated 350 Englishmen in the Jamestown colony (1610) to over 330 increasingly diverse people in the last Census (2020). The American population growth growth was primarily from British emigration, mostly English (17th and 18th centuries). The primary exception was the importation of captive Africans into the southern colonies as part of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. This was a small part of the slave trade, but substantial in demographic terms because the population of the United States was so limited. The united States outlawed the slave trade (1807), but there was an increase in the slave population through natural reproduction among the enslaved population. Migration continued at relatively low levels, mostly from Britain during the first half of the 19th century. Until the 1840s, the United States was a country of mostly British and Protestant citizens. The first large non-British and non-Protestant immigrants were the Irish as a result of the deadly Potato Famine (1840s). At the same time, he Revolutions of 1840s set in motion immigration from Continental Europe, at first primarily the Germans. The Mexican War (1846-48). The Civil War (1860-65) discouraged mass migration for a time, but it accelerated industrialization which in the long run would attract more European immigrant seeking the higher wages paid in America along with greater freedom and opportunity. mass migration soon began after the War and was mostly from Continental Europe, including the mostly Catholic countries, crating a much more diverse country. Tsar Alexander III of Russia began a process of Russification and anti-Semetic terror, driving non-Russians and Jews from Russia, adding to the American ethnic mix (1880s). Until after World War I there were no limits on European immigration, except heath controls. There were limits on Asian immigrants entering California. At the same time the United States was rapidly industrialization and urbanizing. This primarily occurred in the northern sate where a more entrepreneurial spirit dominated. For the first tine, the majority of Americans lived in cities (1920). This mean the average size of the American family was declining. It is at this tome the United States introduced strict immigration limitations (1924). While this limited the arrival of new immigrants. The United States had a large population of immigrants that were only partly assimilated. Here the public schools were doing a fine job of beginning the assimilation process. The African-American population was until the 1910s a mostly rural southern population. The harsh treatment of African Americans in the South set in motion he Great Migration, converted many African Americans to a northern urban population. Henry Ford invented the Model-T Tin Lizzie (1907), essentially putting Americans on wheels--motorized wheels. This accelerated a move from the cities to the sunburns. The Great Depression of the 1930s, slowed population growth, but accelerated urbanization and strangely enough education, with more teenagers attending secondary schools. World War I had major repercussions, but because America was involved for only a shirt time, they were limited. World War II had a far greater impact, leading the Civil Rights and Women's movements and a more open immigration system. he War and the Cold War that followed it would lead to America becoming a super power and generating unrepresented scientific advances leading to marvelous life changing innovatiins and while new industries. Immigration has led to major demographic shifts, especially a huge rise in the Hispanic population.
There are two primary demographic locations or settlement patterns -- rural and urban. The decadal census provides a detail record of the growth of America from a rural people on the edge of a vast, undeveloped frontier to a highly developed urban colossus. At the time of its founding (1780s), the United was almost entirely a rural, mostly agricultural society. The first Census showed that some 95 percent of Americans lived in rural areas (1790). This was one reason that the British failed to subdue the rebellious American colonists. The British could occupy the major cities (New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, etc.), but this was a minuscule part of the colonial population. Most Americans lived on small, largely self sufficient family farms, largely unaffected by any British occupation of the few, still small urban centers. The British could occupy the cities, but occupying the countryside where most Americans lived was beyond the scope of British power. Unlike the Soviets in Afghanistan and now Ukraine, the British were unwilling to pursue genocide and destroy the population. The urban population of the early American Republic grew only slowly at first by only 1 percent or less a year (1780s-1830s). As a result, by the time of the Civil War (1860s), America was still 80 percent rural. This is a little misleading. The Northeast was only 65 percent rural while the South was still 90 percent rural. This would largely determine the outcome of the Civil War as it had determined the outcome of the Revolutionary War. The economy of the rural South could not generate a war effort on the scale of the more urbanized, industrialized North. The South even lagged behind the still developing Midwest and West. After the Civil War the shift to urbanization picked up. Many of the European immigrants coming from rural areas gravitated to the growing industrial cities where jobs paying far greater wages than available in rural areas. At first many of these immigrants were attracted by the inexpensive land that could be had which is why the Germans were so important to the settlement of the Mid-West. But over time the immigrant flow primarily gravitated to urban areas creating distinct ethnic communities in many American cities. Thanks to the economic and cultural advantages America offered and a very impressive public school system, the flood of immigrants was gradually assimilated into the American mainstream. Finally America made the transition from a majority rural population to a majority urban population (192os). With the growth of urban life, the Census had to redefine its definitions, to accommodate not only the inner cities, but alsosmall towns and suburbia. In addition, the nature of rural life changed. The people on small farms were isolated from the rapid developments in the cities. Trips into the cities to purchase necessities were limited by transportation technology. The railroads transformed the American economy, but still did mot affect the isolation of rural people. But a string of important developments fiudamentally changed the nature of rural life, including the mail order catalog (1880s), the Model-T Ford (1907), commercial radio (1920s), rural electrification (1930s), and the consolidation of small rural schools (1940s). Notice how fundamentally American all these development were. The two world wars had a huge impact on the country's demographics.
Garreau, Joel. The Nine Nations of North America (1981).
U.S. Census. The population data we use here comes from the U.S. Censu, a continuous record mandated by the Constitution, and beginning in 1790. In using the Census data, it is important ti recognize changes in the definition of urban areas.
Woodward, Colin. American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures in North America.
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