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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.
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.
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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