Demographics of the United States

Discussion: With your partner, create a list of factors that are influencing the human population in the United States. Describe their influence…

U.S. Factors 1) High legal and illegal immigration 2) Large number of baby boomers 3) High fertility rates for some minority groups 4) Increase in unwed mothers

High Immigration Rates Am.ur.ic.a = unique country built on voluntary immigration But in 1875… 1 st Immigration Exclusions (Page Act)

Page Act: restricted any “undesirables”: laborer from Asia, any Asian woman engaging in prostitution, and all people considered to be convicts in their own country. High Immigration Rates 61 st and Fig!

1882- Chinese Exclusion Act: Restricted all Asian immigration High Immigration Rates

1891- Immigration Act set up an Office of Superintendent of Immigration Responsible for admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to USA and for implementing immigration policy High Immigration Rates

Largest Station: Ellis Island, NY Harbor

1952- Immigration and Nationality Act Quota system for nationalities and regions 3 Types of Immigrants: ones w/ special skills (allowed); avg. immigrants whose #s are not to exceed 270,000 per year; and refugees. High Immigration Rates

Baby Boomers Born after WW II All reached rep. age at same time. Big tolls on Soc. Security and Medicare Huge pop. increase??

Why no rise in pop. after BBs??

HFR in Some Minorities A) Immigrants from developing countries = highest B) Catholics: ban contraceptives C) Non Educated: Fertility rates drop w/ increasing education

In developing countries… Many kids = support in old age Child labor  brings in $ Many sons = high status Religious emphasis on children Why So Many Kids?

Duggar Family of Arkansas

Increase in Unwed Mothers Unmarried women have higher birth rates.

Facing the Problems of Overpopulation

All peoples have the right to a balanced diet, clean water, decent shelter, adequate clothing Human Population Crisis Too many people make these rights unobtainable

Decline in World Death Rates Better medicine, reliable food, good nutrition, better sanitation, safer water

1 Am.ur.i.can causes greater impact & more resource depletion than 12 ppl from developing countries More PPL = More Consumption

Control Consumption!

Highly Developed Nations = 20% of world’s pop. but use: – 86% of aluminum – 76% of timber harvested – 68% of energy produced – 61% of meat eaten – 42% of fresh water consumed Make 75% of world’s pollution

Country Case Studies

Gov. sponsored family planning: education, contraceptives, offer surgical services Pay women to not be pregnant? India: 1.23 billion!

Goal: Cut growth rate in ½ to 3.1 TFR Rural to Urban Switch  less babies. Media Blitz; National Family Planning Program: free family planning (1974) Mexico: 121 million

Largest pop. in Africa TFR=6.0! 45% of pop. < 14 years old Improving health care (< babies needed;) ed; later marriages Nigeria: 170 mill