New Movements in AmericaChapter 13

Immigrants and Urban Challenges

The Big Idea

The population of the United States grew rapidly in the early 1800s with the arrival of millions of immigrants.

Millions of Immigrants Arrive

Main Idea 1: Millions of

immigrants, mostly German and Irish, arrived in the United States despite anti-immigrant movements.

Millions of Immigrants Arrive

Large numbers of European immigrants crossed the Atlantic in the mid-1800s to begin new lives in the United States.

America was attractive because it provided Jobs Greater freedom and equality Abundant land

Millions of Immigrants Arrive From1846-1860 over 1.5 million Irish

arrived in the US because of a potato famine Many were very poor and took low paying

jobs in Northeast – Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

Irish immigrants arriving in Boston harbor

Irelands best – U2

Millions of Immigrants Arrive

Many Germans moved to the Midwest Most were working class and came for economic reasons. Many became farmers and lived in rural areas.

Many German immigrants built houses made of sod

Millions of Immigrants Arrive Both the Irish and Germans were mostly Catholic

Most Americans were Protestants before the new immigration. Conflict developed between Protestants and newly arrived

Catholic immigrants

Bono and the Pope, who is the head of the Catholic Church

Millions of Immigrants Arrive Many native-born Americans feared losing jobs to

immigrants, who might work for lower wages. Nativists were Americans who disliked immigrants

because they thought that immigrants Took Americans’ jobs Brought crime and disease And were Catholic

Nativists from the movie Gangs of New York

Millions of Immigrants Arrive Nativists founded a political party called the Know-

Nothing Party in 1849 Wanted to keep Catholics & immigrants out of public office Wanted immigrants to live in United States for 21 years before

becoming citizens

A cartoon that shows how the Know-Nothing Party viewed immigrants

Rapid Growth of Cities

Main Idea 2: Industrialization led to

the growth of cities.

Rapid Growth of Cities

The rise of industry and the growth of cities led to creation of a new middle class Merchants, manufacturers, professionals, and master

craftspeople New economic level between wealthy and poor

Poor Middle Class Wealthy

Rapid Growth of Cities

People found entertainment and enriched cultural life in cities.

Cities were compact and crowded during this time.

Urban Problems

Main Idea 3: American cities

experienced urban problems due to rapid growth.

Urban Problems

Many city dwellers, particularly immigrants, lived in tenements: poorly designed apartment buildings that housed large numbers of people Fire was a constant and serious danger in crowded cities.

Urban Problems

Public services were poor—no clean water, public health regulations, or healthy way to get rid of garbage. Cities became centers

of criminal activity, and most had no organized police force.