5.4 Global Migration

Period 5 – Industrialization and Global Integration, c. 1750 CE to c. 1900 CE

Migration patterns changed dramatically throughout this period, and the numbers of migrants increased significantly. These changes were closely connected to the development of transoceanic empires and a global capitalist economy. In some cases, people benefited economically from migration, while other people were seen simply as commodities to be transported. Migration produced dramatically different sending and receiving societies, and it presented challenges to governments in fostering national identities and regulating the flow of people.

Illustrative examples, return of migrants:

• Japanese agricultural workers in the Pacific
• Lebanese merchants in the Americas
• Italian industrial workers in Argentina

Illustrative examples, migrants:

• Manual laborers
• Specialized professionals

Illustrative examples, migrant ethnic enclaves:

• Chinese in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, South America, and North America
• Indians in East and Southern Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia
• Irish and Italians in North America

Illustrative examples, regulation of immigrants:

• The Chinese Exclusion Act
• The White Australia Policy