Part 2 Immigration to the United States increased between 1840 and 1.5 million Irish immigrants arrived in the United States, mainly in the Northeast. Immigration Many Irish immigrants came to the United States to escape the potato famine in Ireland. Famine : widespread starvation. While many of these Irish immigrants were farmers, they could not afford land. Many were forced to accept low paying jobs in northern factories. Immigration Many people in the United States opposed immigration. Nativists : white, American born protestants who opposed immigration. Nativists were angry that many immigrants would work for a lower wage, thus taking jobs in cities. Many nativists accused immigrants of bringing crime and disease to American cities. Conflict Although slavery was abolished in Northern states by the early 1800s, African Americans faced discrimination in the North. African American found it difficult to get jobs in factories or skilled trades. In addition, segregation (separation by race) existed in nearly every aspect of Northern public life. Discrimination In the late 1700s slavery was on the decline in the south. But Eli Whitneys 1793 invention singlehandedly saves the institution of slavery. As the need for cotton increased so did the need for slave labor. Rise in Agriculture The Deep South (Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana) primarily grew cotton. King Cotton led to development of huge, sprawling plantations. Slavery Southerners believed slavery was needed for the southern economy to thrive. Plantation owners considered the number of slaves they owned as part of their wealth. Slavery In 1831 a slave named Nat Turner led a revolt in Virginia killing 55 whites. This revolt led to the creation of various slave codes. Slave Codes : laws that controlled every aspect of a slaves life. Slavery Examples of slave codes include: 1.Slaves could not be taught how to read or write. 2.Slaves could not leave the plantation without the owners permission. 3.Slaves could not assemble without a white person present. 4.Slave owners could abolish marriages between slaves and separate families. 5.Slaves could be punished by lashing. Slavery Slaves actually had a variety of jobs on the plantations. Some slaves worked in the house cooking and cleaning. Other African Americans were trained blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers and weavers. Most enslaved African Americans, however, were field hands supervised by an overseer. Slavery The more cotton the south grew the more southern planters depended on slave labor. With the United States expanding West, would slavery expand as well? Slavery The United States had a need for good roads to make travel easier and more efficient. Private companies began constructing turnpikes, or toll roads. Travelers would pay a fee which was used to help pay for the construction of the roads. Moving West The alternative to traveling by land was by river. Traveling by river had two major problems: 1.Most rivers in the eastern United States flowed north to south, unfortunately, many people wanted to travel east to west. 2.Traveling against the current was extremely difficult. Moving West Canal : a man made waterway The Erie Canal would link New York City to the Great Lakes. Moving West The most serious issue that plagued the U.S. during the first half of the 1800s was the expansion of slavery. In 1819 the United States had 11 free states and 11 slave states. In 1820, Missouri wanted to become a state which caused huge debate. Slavery Expands West In 1820, the South wanted Missouri admitted into the Union as a slave state. Northerners wanted Missouri to be a free state. Henry Clay helped work out a compromise between this North and South debate. This plan became known as The Missouri Compromise. Compromise The Missouri Compromise: 1.Missouri would be admitted as a slave state and Maine would be a free state. 2.The agreement banned slavery in the remainder of the Louisiana Territory (north of the 36 30 parallel). Compromise The Missouri Compromise By 1804, Northern states had ended slavery within their borders. Many people searched for the end of the institution of slavery. Abolition Movement William Lloyd Garrison Quaker Wrote the abolitionist newspaper Liberator Favored full political rights for African Americans Frederick Douglass Escapes slavery by running away to the north Outspoken against slavery Dangerous Becomes one of the most famous orators of all time. Harriet Tubman Former slave Conductor on the Underground Railroad Helps over 300 people escape slavery Black Moses $40,000 reward for her capture A network of safe houses for escaped slaves. Underground Railroad