Immigration Waves and Climate Zones of North America

Vocabulary flashcards covering 2nd, 3rd, and 4th waves of US immigration, push and pull factors, and North American climate and vegetation zones.

2nd Wave Immigrants

Immigrants arriving between 1820 to 1890, originating mainly from Northern and Western Europe.

3rd Wave Immigrants

Immigrants arriving between 1840 and 1889, originating from Eastern and Central Europe.

US Societal Transformation (19th Century)

The transition of the United States from a rural and agricultural society to the beginnings of an urban and industrial society.

Push Factors (2nd & 3rd Wave)

Reasons causing people to leave their home countries, including crop disease and escaping persecution.

Pull Factors (2nd & 3rd Wave)

Reasons drawing immigrants to the United States, including economic opportunity, promise of equality, land, education, and escaping military service.

Results of 2nd & 3rd Wave Immigration

The arrival of 12 to 14 million immigrants, the emergence of social tensions, and rising nativism (leading to immigration acts).

4th Wave Immigrants

Immigrants arriving starting in the 1960s from Latin America and Asia, including Mexicans, Chinese, Indians, Pakistanis, Koreans, Vietnamese, and Cubans.

Results of 4th Wave Immigration

A large group of illegal or undocumented immigrants and the implementation of the IRCA (Immigration Reform and Control Act).

Arctic Climate Zone

A climate zone located in Northern Canada and Alaska that is very cold all year with little precipitation, supporting almost no trees, but mosses and lichens.

Subarctic Climate Zone

A climate zone located in Northern Canada and Alaska below the arctic, featuring very cold winters and short cool summers, with evergreen forests and small shrubs.

Continental (Humid Continental) Climate Zone

A climate zone found in North America, East Central Europe, Northern China, and Northern Korea that receives 20 to 50 inches of rainfall and supports evergreen forest, mixed forest, and grassland.

Marine West Coast Climate Zone

A climate zone in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and most of Europe that features small mammals, two main seasons (summer and winter), and trees such as spruce, cedar, pine, and redwood.

Mediterranean Climate Zone

A climate zone along coasts including California, Central Chile, Southwest/Southern Australia, and South Africa's Western Cape, featuring pleasant weather with warm, dry summers and cool, mild winters, supporting fruit trees, scrub-shrubs, grasses, and herbs.

Humid Subtropical Climate Zone

A climate zone on the east coast of continents (North America, South America, China) receiving 48 inches of rain each year, supporting mammals, reptiles, amphibians, evergreen trees (conifers), palm trees, ferns, mangoes, papaya, and pineapple.

Highland Climate Zone

A climate zone found in the Rocky Mountains and other high mountains that has cooler temperatures due to high elevation, supporting pine and cypress trees, grasses, shrubs, and trees that survive cold weather.

Desert Climate Zone

A climate zone in the Southern US and Northern Mexico that is very dry with little rain and hot temperatures, with vegetation consisting of cacti, grasses, and plants needing little water.