In what ways did immigration alter the nation's population and shape its politics?

Immigration significantly changed the population and politics of the United States. Many of the immigrants who came to the United States were young people seeking to leave their home countries in order to look for a better life abroad. It was not uncommon for a young man to leave their families behind in the old country, work for a few years, and then send for the family to join him in America. As a result,...

Immigration significantly changed the population and politics of the United States. Many of the immigrants who came to the United States were young people seeking to leave their home countries in order to look for a better life abroad. It was not uncommon for a young man to leave their families behind in the old country, work for a few years, and then send for the family to join him in America. As a result, of this newer, younger population, many cities developed ethnic districts. Until WWI, many of these immigrants maintained their native language as well, and it was not uncommon to find newspapers written in German and Italian. These immigrants also tended to settle inside of cities as this is where the factory jobs were located. Immigration from Europe fueled the growth of cities so much that by 1920 more Americans would live in cities than agricultural areas.  

Immigration changed politics as well. Urban bosses were able to cash in on desperate immigrants by offering them protection and jobs in return for votes. These same city bosses looked the other way on tenement safety regulations in return for kickbacks. Many immigrants also voted as blocs in order to get their candidates elected. Some famous urban politicians such as Fiorello Laguardia from New York were descended from immigrants. Immigrants in cities would eventually use their voting power in order to get reforms in cities.