Which of the following is an example of a PUSH factor that increased immigration to the United States?

a) Potato famine in Ireland

b) Gold is discovered in California

c) Homestead Act offers free land

d) Construction began on the Transcontinental Railroad

a) Potato famine in Ireland.

Explanation:

The factors that lead to migration of people can all be placed into two groups, one being the push factors and the other being the pull factors. The push factors are the ones that make the people move away from a place. The pull factors are the ones that attract the people to move into a particular place.

The potato famine in Ireland is an example of a push factor. Pretty much all of the population of Ireland was suffering, millions died, and millions more on the verge of existence. In order to be able to survive, the people wanted to move out of Ireland and go into a country that is more stable. The United States seemed like a good choice as the country was constantly improving and developing, so lot of Irish people moved there.