II. European migration in the 19th century

Why do Europeans migrate in the 19th century?

I. Multiple Reasons for Migrating A.Related to industrialization 1. In the 19th c, old seasonal migrations and border crossing migrations continued for agricultural purposes Up to several hundred km for harvesting Migrations of skilled workers increased with urban expansion

2. Industrialization of cities favored rural flight, attracting inhabitants of overpopulated rural areas New farm machinery destroyed employment in the countryside.

(seemingly the only solution possible) People migrated first toward large cities then emigrated toward another country (seemingly the only solution possible)

European phenomenon with diverse causes B. Political migrations develop - after the revolutions of 1831 and 1848 - Germans, Italians and Poles seeking refuge - Various states intervened to accelerate or hinder certain migrations

C. Religious migrations due to persecution After 1880, pogroms pushed Jews in the Russian Empire to emigrate

Immigration numbers reached their peak in late 1850’s

European Immigration: 1870-1920 Europeans immigrated to the US in huge waves during these years Old Immigrants: Western Europe New Immigrants: Eastern Europe

II. Europe unequally affected by migrations Economic migrations which increased with unemployment e.g. Irish emigration after Great Famine

An Emigration of Poverty: Irish Emigration in the 19th Century Ireland: Land of Exodus 1. Product of British colonization Colonized in 17th Century by Great Britain and annexed to United Kingdom in 1800 Population majority Catholic to whom was imposed protestant colonizers from England and Scotland

2. The Irish: A Tradition of Immigration Middle Ages: religious migrations of monks to evangelize the continent Modern Era migrations for religious and military reasons, 18th century for economic reasons Up to 1815, around 11,000 people per year emigrated to Great Britain but also towards America Between 1815 and 1848, 1 million Irish cross the Atlantic and 500,000 leave for Great Britain – Beginning of the “great emigration of paupers”

3. An Emigration of Paupers Irish immigrants of first half of 19th Century : proletariats doing the hardest labor (terracing, drainage, building mining galleries…) (e.g. Erie Canal in Great Lakes region) Vast majority wind up in packed urban ghettos – their arrival is very poorly viewed by the Anglo-Saxon population (in U.S. and U.K.)

B. The Great Irish Exodus (1845-1890) 1. Why does emigration increase? From 1845-1854, around 2.3 M leave Ireland, more than 200,000/year for 5 yrs Potato Blight (food staple of Irish population) causes a famine which leads to 1 million deaths and incites more than a million Irish to emigrate to the U.S. (the poorest flee to G.B.)

Potato Production during the Great Famine 1844-1857

Evictions Multiply Tenants can no longer pay rents to the landlords who then proceed to evict tenant families generated numerous departures which remained significant until the 1890’s. Eviction of 300 tenants by Mrs. Gerrard from the village of Ballinglass, Co Galway, on March 13, 1846

The Irish Famine: a national phenomenon but mixed in its regional impact Which regions are most affected?

Emigration continues over the years, despite the depopulation of the Island

Immigration to the United States Push and Pull Factors for the Irish Few immigration restrictions Famine Unemployment US industrialized in the late 19th century (= JOBS!!!) Abundant land Religious persecution of the Irish Catholics by the English (Protestants) No social class restrictions Oppressive governments in Europe Write push or pull after each factor

Atlantic Voyage Steerage: cheapest “seats” on a steamship Ellis Island Cramped disgusting quarters 14 day trip Ellis Island Inspection before entry to the US Physical Examination Questions Politics???, Criminals???, Can You Work???, and Do You Have Some Money??? 2% were denied admission 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island 71% of all immigrants 21% of Americans today can trace their ancestors to Ellis Island

How did the United States React? 1. Nativism Favoritism towards native-born Americans Socially acceptable discrimination against non- natives

2. Irish Integration in U.S. society Irish immigrants were the 1st to feel the wrath of Nativism They swelled the ranks of urban proletariats and their social ascension was slow Poorly viewed by Anglo Saxon Protestants who rejected them

Irish are accused of threatening the basis of the American nation because of their Catholic faith (loyal to the Pope, Political Machines…)

Irish Paupers populated urban slums called tenements where misery, lawlessness and poor hygienic conditions reign

Dilapidated Golden Flats - Tenement* slum housing *a run-down and often overcrowded apartment house, esp. in a poor section of a large city

Squalid Living Conditions

Cramped living quarters

Gangs of New York Rioting in New York between “natives” and Irish newcomers

Irish Integration into U.S. Society today Circa 1870 Irish immigrants settled in large Northern cities (New York, Boston, Chicago); obtained social integration thanks to trade union movement and political life (Democratic Party) In 1880, New York elected its first Irish Catholic mayor Some success stories (e.g. Ford) In 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the first Catholic President descendant from Irish immigrants, was elected Today 15-20 million Americans have Irish origins

Homework Watch Ellis Island – Island of Hope, Island of Tears Video at home and answer questions Read the 2 page document on Gangs of New York OPTIONAL: Read The Unfinished Nation, chapter 18, “the growth of the city”, pp. 482-496