Question
[5] Another group of people who arrived against their will were
enslaved people from West Africa. Between the 17th and 19th
centuries, as many as 650,000 Africans were kidnapped, brought to
America and sold into slavery. Nearly 4 million enslaved people were
freed as a result of the Civil War (1861-1865) though they would face
discrimination for the next several centuries.
Immigration In The Mid-19th Century
[6] Another major wave of immigration occurred from around
1815-1865. The majority of these newcomers hailed from Northern
and Western Europe. Approximately one-third came from Ireland,
which experienced a massive famine in the mid-19th century. In the
1840s, almost half of America’s immigrants were from Ireland alone.
Typically impoverished, these Irish immigrants settled in cities along
the East Coast. Between 1820 and 1930, some 4.5 million Irish
migrated to the United States.
[7] Also in the 19th century, the United States received some 5 million
German immigrants. Many of them journeyed to the present-day
Midwest to buy farms or congregated in such cities as Milwaukee,
Wisconsin; St. Louis, Missouri; and Cincinnati, Ohio.
© Houston ISD Curriculum 2024-2025 7
What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 6?
The author includes paragraph 6 because...
enslaved people from West Africa. Between the 17th and 19th
centuries, as many as 650,000 Africans were kidnapped, brought to
America and sold into slavery. Nearly 4 million enslaved people were
freed as a result of the Civil War (1861-1865) though they would face
discrimination for the next several centuries.
Immigration In The Mid-19th Century
[6] Another major wave of immigration occurred from around
1815-1865. The majority of these newcomers hailed from Northern
and Western Europe. Approximately one-third came from Ireland,
which experienced a massive famine in the mid-19th century. In the
1840s, almost half of America’s immigrants were from Ireland alone.
Typically impoverished, these Irish immigrants settled in cities along
the East Coast. Between 1820 and 1930, some 4.5 million Irish
migrated to the United States.
[7] Also in the 19th century, the United States received some 5 million
German immigrants. Many of them journeyed to the present-day
Midwest to buy farms or congregated in such cities as Milwaukee,
Wisconsin; St. Louis, Missouri; and Cincinnati, Ohio.
© Houston ISD Curriculum 2024-2025 7
What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 6?
The author includes paragraph 6 because...
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The author includes paragraph 6 to highlight the significant wave of immigration from Northern and Western Europe, particularly emphasizing the influx of Irish and German immigrants during the mid-19th century. This context is essential for understanding the broader demographic changes in the United States during this period, the socio-economic challenges these groups faced, especially the Irish due to the famine, and their eventual settlement patterns. By detailing the origins and impacts of these immigrant groups, the author is illustrating the complexities of American history related to immigration and its diverse influences on the nation.