IMMIGRATION AND THE RISE OF CITIES

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: WHAT FACTORS LED TO INCREASED IMMIGRATION IN AMERICA?WHAT CHALLENGES DID IMMIGRANTS FACE UPON COMING TO AMERICA?

BELL RINGER- ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:▸ List the three major goals of Henry Clay’s American

System.▸ Under the American system, how did America raise

money for internal improvements (roads, railroads, canals, etc.)?

▸ The regional division of the country after Henry Clay’s American System was known as ___________________.

URBAN POPULATIONS GROW▸ Some major cities developed

from Midwestern villages located along rivers

▸ St. Louis is located where the Mississippi River meets the Illinois and Missouri Rivers

▸ Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Louisville became trade centers that connected farmers in the Midwest with cities in the Northeast

IRISH IMMIGRATION▸ Almost half of the population lived on farms

▸ In Ireland, people depended primarily on potatoes as their primary source of food

▸ Potato crops failed for three years in a row

▸ This potato famine led to the death of 750,000 people

▸ Because of this famine, 2 million people emigrated to the United States

▸ Irish immigrants were very poor and could not buy property

▸ Irish immigrants settled where they landed- almost all of them settled in the Northeastern United States

▸ Today, there are more Irish Americans than Irish nationals

GERMAN IMMIGRATION▸ Between 1845-1855, nearly a million

German immigrants were trying to escape economic hardship by moving to the U.S.

▸ They were also trying to escape political unrest and a revolution

▸ The U.S. was one of the few places that would accept German immigrants

▸ Unlike the Irish, many Germans could afford to move to the Midwest to search for farmland and work

▸ The largest German settlements were in NYC, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and St. Louis

TEXT

CHECKPOINT▸ Where did Midwestern cities develop?▸ What caused the majority of Irish immigrants to

come to America?▸ Why did Irish immigrants choose to settle in

Northeastern cities?▸ Why were German immigrants able to settle in the

Midwest?

NATIVISM▸ Nativism is the belief that the

needs of natural born Americans should be emphasized over the needs of immigrants

▸ This led to hostility and mistreatment of immigrants

RELIGIOUS NATIVISM▸ Most Irish and German

immigrants were Roman Catholic

▸ The majority of Americans were Protestant

▸ Roman Catholic immigrants were competing with working class Protestants for jobs

▸ Nativist groups began targeting Catholic churches and convents

POLITICAL NATIVISM▸ Most immigrants became

Democrats

▸ Democrats focused on the needs of commoners

▸ Opposition was due to competition

▸ Immigrants were willing to work for almost nothing in order to survive

TEXT

CHECKPOINT▸ What is “nativism?”▸ What were the religious beliefs of most immigrants?▸ Why did many working class Americans oppose

immigration?

THE “KNOW-NOTHING” PARTY▸ Established to eliminate immigrant

influence in politics and American culture

▸ Anti-Catholic

▸ Wanted to extend the time required to become a citizen

▸ Wanted to prevent immigrants from holding political office

▸ Nativist candidates would run for office in the 1850’s, including Millard Filmore who ran for president

NATIVIST RIOTS▸ Ethnic and Anti-Catholic

violence occurred in many Northern cities

▸ During an economic depression in 1844, Protestants and Catholics fought in the streets of Philadelphia. Sixteen people died, dozens were injured, and forty buildings were demolished.

SUMMARIZER/EXTENSION ACTIVITY▸ Imagine you are an immigrant from either Ireland or

Germany. Construct a letter (at least 1/2 of a page) to a friend in Germany or Ireland. Be sure to discuss the following in your letter:▸ Why did you move to the U.S.?▸ Where did you settle and why did you settle there?▸ What kinds of challenges did you face?