I. Waves of I. Waves of ImmigrantsImmigrants

to the United to the United StatesStates

A. New AmericansA. New Americans More than 4 million More than 4 million people immigrated to people immigrated to the United States the United States between 1840 and 1860between 1840 and 1860

About 3 million were About 3 million were German or IrishGerman or Irish

B. Irish ImmigrantsB. Irish ImmigrantsLeft Ireland because Left Ireland because of potato famineof potato famine

Most were very poorMost were very poorMost were CatholicMost were Catholic

Most settled near citiesMost settled near cities Women typically worked Women typically worked as domestic servantsas domestic servants

Men usually worked as Men usually worked as unskilled laborunskilled labor

C. German ImmigrantsC. German Immigrants Emigrated from Germany for Emigrated from Germany for

political reasonspolitical reasons Many had nothing upon arrivalMany had nothing upon arrival Included Catholics, Jews and Included Catholics, Jews and

ProtestantsProtestants Most settled in rural Midwestern Most settled in rural Midwestern

states in order to farmstates in order to farm

II. The Nativist II. The Nativist ResponseResponse

A. Native-born AmericansA. Native-born Americans Feared losing jobs to Feared losing jobs to immigrants who worked immigrants who worked for lower wagesfor lower wages

Were typically Protestants Were typically Protestants who distrusted Catholicswho distrusted Catholics

Nativists—Americans who Nativists—Americans who opposed immigrationopposed immigration

B. Know-Nothing PartyB. Know-Nothing Party A secret society formed in A secret society formed in

18491849 Wanted to keep immigrants Wanted to keep immigrants

and Catholics from holding and Catholics from holding political officepolitical office

Wanted a 21 year residency Wanted a 21 year residency requirement for citizenshiprequirement for citizenship

III. The Growth III. The Growth of Cities in the of Cities in the United StatesUnited States

A. GrowthA. Growth Many new jobs created by the Many new jobs created by the

industrial revolutionindustrial revolution Rural Americans drawn to Rural Americans drawn to

cities in search of cities in search of employmentemployment

Transportation Revolution Transportation Revolution facilitated access to citiesfacilitated access to cities

B. Life in the CityB. Life in the CityCities offered Cities offered entertainment and entertainment and cultural activitiescultural activities

Cities were noisy and Cities were noisy and overcrowdedovercrowded

IV. Urban IV. Urban ProblemsProblems

A. Rapid Growth led to A. Rapid Growth led to Overcrowded CitiesOvercrowded Cities

B. Living ConditionsB. Living Conditions Some people lived in dirty Some people lived in dirty

overcrowded buildings called overcrowded buildings called tenementstenements

The overcrowding and filth The overcrowding and filth led to diseaseled to disease

Cities became centers of Cities became centers of crimecrime