Effects of World War I

Upon migration between Europe and the United States

         see also: the graph of migration for 1900-25

                       the change in migration patterns and policies

“With the outbreak of war in Europe at the beginning of August 1914, the great tide of immigration slackened…The impact of the war was felt at Ellis Island almost immediately, and was reflected statistically in the years that followed. In the fiscal year 1914 [the year ending June 30, 1914], the last full year of migration, 878,052 [immigrants entered the U.S] through the Port of New York. During the fiscal year 1915 there were…178,146.”

  - Thomas Pitkin, Keepers of the Gate p. 111

[Note: 178 thousand following 878,052 is an 80% decline]