b) Southern and Eastern European immigrants

The Progressive Era saw a significant shift in U.S. immigration, with predominance of Southern and Eastern European immigrants. This wave, peaking between 1880 and 1920, brought millions from regions like Italy, Russia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Unlike earlier immigrants, many of these newcomers were Catholic or Jewish, spoke little English, and often settled in crowded urban centers, contributing to the era’s cultural and demographic transformation. Their arrival sparked various social responses, from nativist movements calling for immigration restrictions to reformers advocating for better assimilation programs. This shift in immigration patterns played a key role in shaping American society, influencing everything from urban culture to labor movements, and eventually leading to significant changes in U.S. immigration policy.