Andrew T.M., Ken Lin, Stephen Kim IMMIGRATION Andrew T.M., Ken Lin, Stephen Kim
Purpose Europe was running out of space Immigrants were mostly Irish, Germans, and French Act of Union 1803 Ireland became part of the United Kingdom Immigrants flooded into America during this period Came for food and political freedom
General
GENERAL (CONT.) Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pennsylvania Poverty in US Competition with free African Americans riots Catholic immigrants were discriminated by American Protestants riots Nativist (mostly Whig) discourage immigration or deny political rights for newcomers
Irish IMMIGRANTS Main reason for Immigration to America was the potato famine Disliked the British Roman Catholics Despised for this Voting Poor individuals looking for cheap work “Micks”,”Bridgets”,“Paddies”, Biddies” Low skill jobs “NINA” (No Irish Need Apply) 2 million Irish 70% of servants in Boston were Irish 30,000 – 100,000 in one year
Why Americans Hated Irish Immigrants Irish immigrants were hated by low class Americans because they stole all their jobs The nationality that was most dominant in mental asylums was Irish Spread like rabbits The servants were “melancholy and lonely” What happens when half your family dies in a potato famine Ostracized just for being the newcomers “picking on the new kid”
German IMMIGRANTS Main reason for Immigration was Crop Shortages Generally more educated than Americans “Forty-Eighters” Collapse of democratic revolution in 1848 Went to America for hope of democracy
Influence of the Immigrants (Irish) Political: Sided with South on slavery, because Blacks were also competing for their jobs (German) Political: Opposed Slavery (German) Material goods, Kentucky Rifle, Christmas Tree (German) Political: Strongly supported public education Gave the idea of Kindergarten (Irish) More Liquor