The Hopes of Immigrants

Chapter 14, Section 1

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Emigrants vs. Immigrants

Emigrant A person who leaves a country

Exits

Immigrant A person who settles in a new country

Into

Patterns of Immigration

Generally single men or families, relatively few single women

Very unpleasant conditions Steerage: the cheapest (lowest) deck on a

ship

Why People Migrated“Push” Factors

Push people out of their native land

“Pull” Factors

Pull people towards a new place

Immigrants Move Westward Why West?

Cheap land - $1.25/acre

Scandinavians Minnesota and Wisconsin

Similar geography to Scandinavia

Forests, lakes, cold winters

British Midwest

Farming, factories

Chinese California Gold Rush

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Germans Pursue Economic

Opportunities Largest immigrant group in 1800s Established German communities in the

northern Midwest and Texas

Active in all industries and businesses

Brought with them many cultural traditions

Kindergarten

Gymnasium

Christmas Tree

Hamburger

Frankfurter

The Irish Flee Starvation

Irish Catholics had few rights because they were ruled by Protestant Britain Couldn’t vote, hold office, own land, or go to school

1845: Irish Potato Famine Famine: a severe food shortage

Caused approximately 1.5 million Irish to emigrate

Irish Immigrants Most stayed in port cities and were very poor and

uneducated

Found work doing hard labor – especially canals and railroads

America Adjusts to Immigrants

Us vs. Them

Overcrowding in the Cities

Assimilation The process of being absorbed into a new

culture and blending into a new society

Organizations to help immigrants

Life for the New Arrivals

Cities became extremely overcrowded as they rapidly expanded Immigrants and native-born Americans looking for

jobs

Northern cities bore the brunt of population growth

Life in the cities Crowded apartment buildings with little sunlight and

fresh air

Poor plumbing – health concerns

Lots of crime

No public police force/fire department/public works

Opposition to Immigration

US vs. THEM

Prejudice: A negative opinion (of a group of people) that is not based on facts

Nativists: People who want to eliminate foreign influence

Know-Nothing Party: Wanted to keep immigrants out of politics Wanted to limit immigration and establish a 21-

year-wait to become a citizen

Disagreed on slavery