My visualization for the graphs were two bar graphs for white immigration or immigration in general in states in 1880 1900. To me bar graphs were better to help describe what states had more value of immigrations then scatter or line graphs. It was set up in alphabetical order Census are taken two years apart so for the datasets I used 1880 and 1900. A difference of 20 years of immigration and movement in states was highlighted. The start of the progressive era could be credited in 1890. The progressive era took off early 1900s and was a boom period in American history. When I looked into the graphs and data book I noticed something that shocked me. In 1900 Indians territory was the largest value on the chart larger then southern, western and northern states. Examples include California, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Kentucky etc. There was no data of a census of Indian territories in 1880 so the data was new and there was little to compare. Yet there was big value there listed on the graph . Most of these states I listed I thought would be the biggest value of immigration United States and in total population for white demographic.
Most of them were not had little value and change. Rhode Island North Carolina were the two largest passing 2.5 million into 3 million area. I always knew Rhode Island despite one of the smallest states the United States in size could contain the highest value in the northern United States 2nd highest overall. In comparison Rhode Island only had 2.0 million in 1880 a big change in the census in a spam of 20 years. Rhode Island had 2.5 in 1900 census North Carolina was the highest in value both 1880 and 1900 for White native born population and immigration . There was a slight increase in the 20-year gap. The only closest states were Rhode Island, Illinois and Oregon. Among other changes between the two graphs was Illinois, Virginia and Utah territories was included in 1880 but not in 1900. For every state that was in both 1880 and 900 there was either an increase or stayed the same and being stable at the value they were already at. This shows the trend that there was a significant change in population/census as the progressive era slowly began that would go on until World War 1.
What this told me about immigration in progressive era was it occurred a lot and the states that were having the most population immigrants, and whites before the progressive still were on top during the progressive era at the turn of the century. Millions came into the country and flooded into states by Atlantic Pacific oceans where they could settle in join the various movements of the progressive era including immigrant reform voting labor rights etc. Most of the immigrants who came into this country were looking for jobs got thrown in right away to the meat of the progressive era where reforms slowly took place I imagine this was the case for all the states that were on the bar graph data.
I think reading comprehension is needed to analyze both graphs. You take the two graphs analyze them slowly then show what your knowledge of the progressive era how the graphs related to the progressive era. Reading comprehension is the best skill you analyze most historical graphs and visualizations. It was a skill I used back in high school with my history AP’s it is still something I need work on getting better at this assignment helped out with that.
