Eras of Migration

Eras of Migration
Eras of Migration

Click on one of the boxes to below to explore different time periods of Boston’s immigration history. Or see the timeline below to learn about specific events related to immigrants.

First Wave, 1820-1880

First Wave, 1820-1880

The Irish predominated in this first mass wave of immigration, as Boston evolved from a bustling port town to a thriving industrial city.

Second Wave, 1880-1921

Second Wave, 1880-1921

Booming industrial growth in this period attracted thousands of new workers and their families from Russia, Italy, China, and other locales.

Restriction Era, 1921-1965

Restriction Era, 1921-1965

Following the restrictive and discriminatory legislation of the 1920s, this era saw the lowest levels of immigration since the early nineteenth century.

Global Era, 1965-present

Global Era, 1965-present

Changing refugee policies and the 1965 Immigration Act ushered in a new global era of migration, giving greater Boston a strikingly diverse population.

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