Immigration & Urban Challenges

Flood of Immigrants 1840-1860 4 million settled in U.S. More than 3 million came from Ireland & Germany Many were fleeing economic or political trouble

Irish Ireland suffered from a famine caused by “potato blight” – rot in potatoes More than a million died of starvation, more came to U.S. They settled in cities in Massachusetts, NJ, NY, & Pennsylvania Most were poor, working at unskilled jobs or building canals and railroads Women worked as domestic servants Most were Catholic

Germans Some Germans came to escape political persecution Most came for economic reasons-many came with money of their own More likely to become farmers than the Irish – moved to mid-western states where there was more land But many worked as tailors, seamstresses, bricklayers, servants, cabinetmakers, bakers, & food merchants

German Farmers

Anti-Immigration Many native-born Americans felt threatened by immigrants: losing jobs, immigrants religion & culture Americans who opposed immigration were called “Nativists”

Anti-Immigration cont. Those Americans opposed to immigration formed a political party called the “Know-Nothing Party” Pushed for laws to limit foreigners (specifically Catholics) from becoming citizens or holding public office Wanted to require them to live in U.S. for 21 years before becoming citizens

Rapid Growth of Cities The rise of industry and growth of cities changed American life Business owners, skilled workers, merchants, manufactures, professionals, & master craftspeople made up a new social class: MIDDLE CLASS They built nice homes and engaged in a rich cultural life: theater, clubs, libraries, concerts, & lectures

Urban Problems

Due to lack of transportation, workers needed to live close to work – crowded cities Lack of safe housing – most lived in Tenements Poorly designed apartment buildings – dirty, overcrowded & unsafe Majority of cities did not have – clean water, public health regulations, sanitary garbage and “waste” management systems Diseases spread quickly & epidemics were common

Urban Problems cont. Urban areas became centers for criminal activity Most cities including New York, Boston, & Philadelphia had no permanent or organized force to fight crime Also, little organized fire protection – most cities relied on volunteers that used hand pumps and buckets to fight fires