The old immigrant groups, which comprised America's population prior to the mid 19th century, included the English, Germans, Irish, Scandinavians, Dutch. The Chinese are generally not included in this list, however, they were an important immigrant group which started arriving on the west coast prior to the arrival of new immigrant groups. The old immigrants, with the exception of the Chinese, assimilated more quickly and the immigrant children were rapidly Americanized with the help of the public education system. They moved all across the country sometimes as groups but eventually dispersed amongst the various states and territories. Many of them started the great farming operations of the Midwest. They pioneered the West and established the foundation for the coming industrial revolution.