The Great Migration

Toronto, Canada (September 17th, 2025)

North America is an ancient continent, breaking from Pangaea earning the name Laurentia 565M years in the past by modern geologists. The land mass took its current shape in the Mesozoic era, 300M years ago. Life flourished between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, and soon humanity followed. It is undetermined if it was a land bridge from Asia or crafty sailors from foreign lands who introduced themselves to the continent.

As recent history keeps record, its clear that the Italian sailor, Christopher Columbus, funded by Spanish royalty, located the Caribbean and Americas and the indigenious inhabitants in 1492. A route that connected the west of Europe to the lands of chocolate, coffee, citrus fruit, tobacco, and future National Parks.

How North American Populations grew in the last Millenia

In 16th century America relations with the Indigenous communites and the European immigrants were curt, and primarily transactional. The discovery of the ‘New World’ led to trade routes, quickly turning into slave routes to procure goods from the lands, while converting land into sugar, cotton, and tobacco farms for the European markets. The new territories became recognized as places enticing adventurers and to dispel devoted religious goers not fitting with the Christian values in Europe.

First the English and Dutch Pilgrims settle the U.S., soon the Germans and Scandinavian’s migrate in. West African slaves start to divert from the Caribbean and South America, with 2,000 arriving each year.

French settlers who entered Lower Canada through the Saint Lawrence River culminated in what is now Detroit. Through the century the French would migrate down the Mississipi River and eventually build a Cajun stronghold in modern day Louisana.

       In the 18th Century, the Presbyterian Scots-Irish are invited to expand into the West of Northern America and farm the lands of the midwest Frontier. The South drew them in as indentured servants requiring them to pay back their trip, housing, food and eventually being released after 7 years of helping build farms. Later, an American slave market was developed leading to African decendants ‘to be sold down the river’ alongside new west African slaves burdening the role of farming the lands in the plantations indefinitely.

       In the 1770’s momentum hits, the printing press educates the masses, ideas bloom beyond the renaissance, and political satire rallies sentiment. The Red Coat British aristorcracy are put on trial and the Colonist British officials lead the charge of public revolt. In 1776 the United States of America comes together, 13 Colonies unionized in a fight to stand-up to the taxes imposed by the British.

The 19th Century revolutionizes America, although loyalists and Black Americans migrate to Canada settling into Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. America expands into the West, with settlers establishing fixed mono-cultural farms to challenge the migratory pastures established by the indigenuous landscape. Battles ensue, and soon Americans challenge Mexican and Spanish settlers who migrated through Florida to Texas then California. In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo embraces the end of the war and the United States expansion of the fabric of the union to include Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Wyoming.

 The Great Famine of 1845-1852 in Ireland, led to a mass migration of Irish Catholics entering through New York ports. In a similar pace German migrants arrived with dreams of settling the north through Minnesota across to the Dakotas. Nativist movements rose in the 1850’s against Catholics, and in 1875 the Page Act, the Asian Exclusion Act outlawed the importation of Asian laborers. Concerns roses is America a ‘melting pot’ or simply a ‘dumping ground’?

The 1880’s saw a rise of enhanced farming techniques and an expanded railroad system in Europe. Migrants from Italy, Greece, Hungary, Poland, the Jewish Diaspora, and the Slavic people were drawn to America. As quickly as the lot arrived, they stayed in the urban settings that first accepted them. The Immigration Restriction League amplified xenophobic concerns with the danger of Europeans entering into the American workforce.

The 1890’s greeted 1M Quebecois entered New England, as Canadian policies turned pro-anglophone.

The 20th Century wavered between the acceptance of huddled masses and policies driven by nativists leaders.

The 1900’s start with 2M Italians landing in the North East, and 1.5M Swedes and Norwegians settling in the North West. Danish Mormon converts finding their home in Utah. Lebanese and Syrian muslims settling in Boston, New York, Detroit and the midwest. Due to instability in Mexico with civil wars and troubles at the American border, many Mexicans arrived in the Southwest.

In 1924 the National Origins Formula heavily restricted non-Europeans, and limited access for Jews from Europe.

The 1950’s saw Operation Wetback force return thousands of Mexicans (even some American citizens) back to Mexico.

In 1965, American policy opened up with a focus on accepting new Europeans and particularly tradesfolk to build the countries infrastructure.

The 1970’s saw an influx of Cuban refugees coming through year over year and building home in the Southeast.

The 1980’s saw Philippino’s, Korean’s, and Vietnamese begin to make their way to the West Coast.

The 1990’s saw a surge of new Mexican migrants coming in through the South filling a need to work labor jobs.

Bringing us into the 21st Century and America today.

In the 2000’s, South Asian’s and Chinese enter the United States on EB-3 and H1-B Visas to fill roles in finance, health, and tech companies throughout America.

In 2008, the first half-black President was elected. A ‘birther’ movement was built to question his national birthplace and sewed the seeds for a renewed Nativist movement. Ideas were refreshed from earlier policies of the 1930’s in placing a stop on entry for immigrants and the 1950’s in exiting illegal immigrants and those midway through their green card process.

Today, in 2025, the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) grew 400% with a mission to identify, isolate, and export all of the 12M suspected illegal immigrants back to their home country, if aslyum seekers then to Africa, and if suspected criminals to EL Salvador.  

America is closing its doors, for now, leaving options opened on specialized visas, or the $5M ‘Gold Card’ plan for wealthy individuals.  

What lies ahead in 2026 will be entirely dependent on America’s economic positioning. If the country recedes due to poor economic and tariff policies. Capital flight will be led as immigrants leave and U.S. citizens to move to new markets.

If America remains rich, then everyone will follow and want to join the club.