CHAPTER 14: NEW MOVEMENTS

IN AMERICA

14-1: IMMIGRANTS AND URBAN CHALLENGES

I. Millions of Immigrants Arrive• From 1840 to 1860, more than 4 million immigrant settled in the United States.

• Of these immigrants, over 3 million came from Ireland and Germany.

• Many of them fled their countries, because of economic or political troubles.

A. Fleeing the Irish Potato Famine

• In the mid-1840s, potato blight, a disease that causes rot in potatoes, left many families in Ireland with little food.

• As a result of this, many Irish people died of starvation or disease.

A. Fleeing the Irish Potato Famine

• Most Irish immigrants were very poor.

• They often worked as:• Unskilled workers• Builders of Canals• Builders of railroads• Domestic servants

(women)

• Even with these hardships, the Irish people were thankful to be in America.

B. A Failed German Revolution• In 1848, some Germans had staged a revolution against

harsh rule.

• Many educated Germans fled to the United States to escape persecution by their political activities.

• Most German immigrants, who were working class, came to America for a better job opportunities and more freedom from government control.• Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod-1850

B. A Failed German Revolution• German immigrants were most likely to become farmers

and live in rural areas.• Midwest States

• Most Germans came to America with money, but still took low-paying jobs.• Tailors• Seamstresses• Bricklayers• Servants• Food merchant• Bakers• Cabinetmakers

C. Anti-Immigration Movements• Industrialization and immigration greatly changed the

labor force of the United States.

• Though most immigrants filled-in cheap labor jobs, many native-born Americans did not appreciate immigration.

• Nativists- Those Americans and others who opposed immigration.• These nativists feared that immigrants would take their jobs away

or changed their religious beliefs.• Some nativists also created the Know-Nothing Party.

C. Anti-Immigration Movements

• Know-Nothing Party• In 1849, nativists founded

this political organization that supported measures making it difficult for foreigners to become citizens or hold office.

• They wanted strict requirements placed on citizenship.• Live in country for 21 years!

II. Rapid Growth of Cities• The Industrial Revolution led to the creation of many new

jobs in American cities.• This led many immigrants and rural citizens to want to settle in

cities.

• The Transportation Revolution helped connect cities and made it easier for people to move to them.

• The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states grew the most at this time, which led to the increase of manufacturing in the North.

II. Rapid Growth of Cities• The creation of the Middle Class

• A social and economic level between the wealthy and the poor.

• Most families in this class included:• Merchants• Manufacturers• Professionals• Master craftspeople

• Those in the middle class built large, dignified homes that demonstrated their place in society.

II. Rapid Growth of Cities• In these growing cities, people found entertainment and an enriched cultural life through:• Visiting libraries or clubs• Attending concerts or

lectures• Attending urban theaters• Bowling• Boxing• Playing cards• Baseball-created in 1845

II. Rapid Growth of Cities• Cities were often very compact, crowded, and noisy.• Many workers often walked to their jobs, because it was

faster and easier to do so!

• Let’s examine p. 441 to see how New York City was in the Mid-1800s.

III. Urban Problems

• Many American cities faced many challenges due to their rapid growth.• These problems included:

• Limitations on public and private transportations• Lack of safe housing

• Tenements-Poorly designed apartment buildings that house large numbers of people

• Many cities did not have clean water• Little to no public health regulations• Little healthful ways to get rid of garbage or animal and human

wastes• Diseases spread easily and epidemics were common!

III. Urban Problems• City life held other dangers as well!

• Many urban areas became centers for criminal activity, because there was no permanent or organized force to fight crime.• Focused on volunteer night watches, but offered little protection.

• Fire was another constant and serious danger in crowded cities.• There was little organized fire protection.

• Few sanitation workers to clean up messes on the streets.

• Many streets were not maintained for safe travels.