Why do people want to move to the United States from other countries?
Section 1: Immigrants and Urban Challenges
If YOU were there...
It is 1850, and you are a German immigrant standing on the deck of a steamboat crossing Lake Erie. Other immigrants are on board, but they are strangers to you. Soon, you will arrive at your new home in Chicago, Illinois. You've been told that other Germans have settled there. You hope to find friends and work as a baker. Right now, America seems very big and very strange.
What would you expect from
your new life in America?
It is 1850, and you are a German immigrant standing on the deck of a steamboat crossing Lake Erie. Other immigrants are on board, but they are strangers to you. Soon, you will arrive at your new home in Chicago, Illinois. You've been told that other Germans have settled there. You hope to find friends and work as a baker. Right now, America seems very big and very strange.
What would you expect from
your new life in America?
Building Background: The revolutions in industry, transportation, and technology were not the only major changes in the United States in the mid-1800's. Millions of immigrants, mostly from Europe, made the population grow. Some settled in the rich farmland of the Midwest, while others moved to cities.
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Millions of Immigrants Arrive
In the mid-1800's, large numbers of immigrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean to begin new lives in the United States. More than 4 million of them settled in the United States between 1840 and 1860, most from Europe. More than 3 million of these immigrants arrived from Ireland and Germany. Many of them were fleeing economic or political troubles from their own countries.
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Fleeing the Irish Potato Famine
Many immigrants during that period were Irish. In the mid 1840's ,potato blight, a disease that causes rot in potatoes, left many families in Ireland with little food. More than a million Irish people died of starvation and disease. Even more fled to the United States.
Most Irish immigrants were very poor. Many settled in cities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. They worked at unskilled jobs in the cities or on building canals and railroads. Irish woman often worked as domestic servants for wealthy families, working 16 or more hours a day. In 1849, a Boston health committee reported that low wages forced most Irish immigrants to live in poor housing. Still, many immigrants enjoyed a new feeling of equality.
Most Irish immigrants were very poor. Many settled in cities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. They worked at unskilled jobs in the cities or on building canals and railroads. Irish woman often worked as domestic servants for wealthy families, working 16 or more hours a day. In 1849, a Boston health committee reported that low wages forced most Irish immigrants to live in poor housing. Still, many immigrants enjoyed a new feeling of equality.
A Failed German Revolution
Many Germans also came to the United States during this time. In 1848 some Germans had planned a revolution against harsh rule. Some educated Germans fled to the United States to escape difficulty caused by their political activities. Most German immigrants, however, were working class, and they came for economic reasons. The United States seemed to offer both greater economic opportunity and more freedom from government control. While most Irish immigrants were Catholics, German immigrant groups included Catholics, Jews, and Protestants.
German immigrants were more likely than the Irish to become farmers and live in rural areas. They moved to midwestern states where more land was available. Unlike the Irish, a large number of German immigrants arrived in the United States with money. Even with their funds and skills, German immigrants often were forced to take low-paying jobs. Many German immigrants worked as tailors, seamstresses, bricklayers, servants, clerks, bakers, and food merchants.
German immigrants were more likely than the Irish to become farmers and live in rural areas. They moved to midwestern states where more land was available. Unlike the Irish, a large number of German immigrants arrived in the United States with money. Even with their funds and skills, German immigrants often were forced to take low-paying jobs. Many German immigrants worked as tailors, seamstresses, bricklayers, servants, clerks, bakers, and food merchants.
Anti-Immigration Movements
Industrialization and the waves of people from Europe greatly changed the American labor force. While many immigrants went to the Midwest to get farmland, other immigrants became workers who did physical jobs for little money in towns and cities. Industrial jobs in the Northeast attracted many people.
Yet a great deal of native-born Americans feared losing their jobs to immigrants who might work for less money. Some felt threatened by new immigrants' cultures and religions. For example, before Catholic immigrants arrived, most Americans were Protestants. Conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in Europe caused American Protestants to not trust Catholic immigrants. Those Americans and others who opposed immigration were called nativists.
In the 1840s and 1850s some nativists became politically active. An 1844 election flyer gave Americans this warning. "Look at the thieves roaming our streets taking the business which properly belongs to our own native and true-born citizens." - Election Flyer
In 1849 nativists founded a political organization, the Know-Nothing Party, that supported measures making it difficult for foreigners to become citizens or hold office. Its members wanted to keep Catholics and immigrants out of public office. They also wanted to require immigrants to live in the United States for 21 years before becoming citizens. Know-Nothing politicians had some success getting elected during the 1850s. Later, disagreements over the issue of slavery caused the party to fall apart.
Yet a great deal of native-born Americans feared losing their jobs to immigrants who might work for less money. Some felt threatened by new immigrants' cultures and religions. For example, before Catholic immigrants arrived, most Americans were Protestants. Conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in Europe caused American Protestants to not trust Catholic immigrants. Those Americans and others who opposed immigration were called nativists.
In the 1840s and 1850s some nativists became politically active. An 1844 election flyer gave Americans this warning. "Look at the thieves roaming our streets taking the business which properly belongs to our own native and true-born citizens." - Election Flyer
In 1849 nativists founded a political organization, the Know-Nothing Party, that supported measures making it difficult for foreigners to become citizens or hold office. Its members wanted to keep Catholics and immigrants out of public office. They also wanted to require immigrants to live in the United States for 21 years before becoming citizens. Know-Nothing politicians had some success getting elected during the 1850s. Later, disagreements over the issue of slavery caused the party to fall apart.
Rapid Growth of Cities
The Industrial Revolution led to the creation of many new jobs in American cities. These city jobs drew immigrants from many nations as well as immigrants from rural parts of the United States. The Transportation Revolution helped connect cities and made it easier for people to move to them. As a result of these two trends, American cities grew rapidly during the mid-1800s. Cities in the northeastern and Middle Atlantic states grew the most. By the mid-1800s, three fourths of the countries manufacturing jobs were in these areas.
The rise of industry and the growth of cities changed American life. Those who owned their own businesses or worked in skilled jobs benefited most from those changes. The families of these merchants, manufacturers, professionals, and master craftspeople made up a growing social class. This new middle class was a social and economic level between the wealthy and the poor. Those in the new middle class built large, dignified homes that show their place in society.
In the growing cities, people found entertainment and an enriched cultural life. Many enjoyed visiting places such as libraries and clubs, or attending concerts or lectures. In the mid-1800s people also attended urban theaters. Favorite pastimes included bowling, boxing, and playing cards. The rules of baseball were completed in 1845, and the game became increasingly popular.
Cities during this time were compact and crowded. Many people lived close enough to their jobs that they could walk to work. Wagons carried goods down streets paved with stones, making a noisy, busy scene. One observer noted that the professionals in New York City always had a "hurried walk."
The rise of industry and the growth of cities changed American life. Those who owned their own businesses or worked in skilled jobs benefited most from those changes. The families of these merchants, manufacturers, professionals, and master craftspeople made up a growing social class. This new middle class was a social and economic level between the wealthy and the poor. Those in the new middle class built large, dignified homes that show their place in society.
In the growing cities, people found entertainment and an enriched cultural life. Many enjoyed visiting places such as libraries and clubs, or attending concerts or lectures. In the mid-1800s people also attended urban theaters. Favorite pastimes included bowling, boxing, and playing cards. The rules of baseball were completed in 1845, and the game became increasingly popular.
Cities during this time were compact and crowded. Many people lived close enough to their jobs that they could walk to work. Wagons carried goods down streets paved with stones, making a noisy, busy scene. One observer noted that the professionals in New York City always had a "hurried walk."
Urban Problems
American cities in the mid-1800s faced many challenges due to rapid growth. Because public and private transportation was limited, city residents had to live near their workplaces. In addition, there was a lack of safe housing. Many people who lived in the city, especially immigrants, could afford to live only in tenements - poorly designed apartment buildings that housed large numbers of people. These structures were often dirty, overcrowded, and unsafe.
Public services were also poor. The majority of cities did not have clean water, public health regulations, or healthful ways to get rid of garbage and human and animal waste. Under these conditions, disease spread easily, and epidemics were common. In 1832 and 1849, for example, New York City suffered cholera epidemics that killed thousands.
City life held other dangers. As urban areas grew, they became centers of criminal activity. Most cities - including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia - had no permanent or organized force to fight crime. Instead they relied on volunteer night watches, which offered little protection.
Fire was another constant and serious danger in crowded cities. There was little organized fire protection. Most cities were served by volunteer fire companies. Firefighters used hand pumps and buckets to put out fires. In addition, there were not enough sanitation workers and road maintenance crews. These shortages and flaws caused health and safety problems for many city residents.
SUMMARY: Immigrants expected a better life in America, but not all Americans welcomed newcomers. The rapid growth of cities cause many problems.
Public services were also poor. The majority of cities did not have clean water, public health regulations, or healthful ways to get rid of garbage and human and animal waste. Under these conditions, disease spread easily, and epidemics were common. In 1832 and 1849, for example, New York City suffered cholera epidemics that killed thousands.
City life held other dangers. As urban areas grew, they became centers of criminal activity. Most cities - including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia - had no permanent or organized force to fight crime. Instead they relied on volunteer night watches, which offered little protection.
Fire was another constant and serious danger in crowded cities. There was little organized fire protection. Most cities were served by volunteer fire companies. Firefighters used hand pumps and buckets to put out fires. In addition, there were not enough sanitation workers and road maintenance crews. These shortages and flaws caused health and safety problems for many city residents.
SUMMARY: Immigrants expected a better life in America, but not all Americans welcomed newcomers. The rapid growth of cities cause many problems.