The Changing American Population Objectives: Understand how the nations population grew and expanded? Understand different racial categories in U.S. history and how they change over time. Do Now: Pg. 260-261 #’s 1 and 2 Homework: Transportation, Communications, and Technology pg. 262. Packet pgs. 22-24

As the market revolution gained traction in the United States and drew more people and regions into its orbit, American society changed in significant ways. The United States experienced new migration patterns, new ideas about family and gender relations, and a shift in political power

How did this growing population contribute to the nation’s economic transformation?

The Changing American Population Improvements in public health High birth rate Immigration The total population nearly 13 million, the foreign population was less that 500,000

Where did most of these new immigrants settle?

The Changing American Population Immigration boom By 1832 the immigration climbed to 60,000 and nearly 80,000 in 1837. Increased by reduced transportation costs and increasing economic opportunities. The deteriorating conditions in Europe also helped.

What events in Europe contributed to this increase in immigration?

Why were the Irish among the most likely immigrant groups to become part of the industrial workforce?

The Changing American Population Influx of Irish Catholics The increased immigration brought a wave of immigrants from Southern Ireland. Marked the beginning of a tremendous influx of Irish Catholics that was to continue through the three decades before the civil war. Became unskilled laborers in cities Hated because of Catholicism and cheap labor

What accounts for the density in these areas? American Population Density by 1820 What accounts for the density in these areas?

American Population Density by 1860 What accounts from the growing population density in some areas of the South?

The Changing American Population The agricultural regions in New England and other areas grew less profitable More and more people picked up stakes and moved Some to promising agricultural regions in the west, but more to the eastern cities.

The Changing American Population New York became largest city as a result of natural harbor and Erie Canal, which gave unrivaled access to the interior, liberal state laws By 1860: 26% of the population of free states was living in towns or cities In the Northwest once small trading posts became major cities; St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati

What are some of the differences between what German and Irish immigrants did once they arrived in America?

The Changing American Population Immigrants came from England, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Poland and Holland, but most came from Ireland and Germany In Germany economic dislocations of the industrial revolution caused widespread poverty, the collapse of liberal revolutions led to social unrest In Ireland the oppressiveness and unpopularity of the English drove people to emigrate, Potato Famine (1845 – 1849) one million people died of starvation and disease and led to immigration to the US

The Changing American Population Native American Association was formed to combat the "alien menace", agitating against immigration in 1837, held a convention in Philadelphia

The Changing American Population Supreme Order of the Star-Spangled Banner endorsed a list of demands, included banning Catholics from holding public office, restrictive naturalization laws, literacy test for voting- secret password "I know nothing" The Know Nothings created the new political organization known as the American Party, contributed to the collapse of the existing party system, creation of new national political alignments

The Changing American Population The Irish settled in eastern cities, provided unskilled labor, many young single women came over and found jobs in factories The Germans moved on to the Northwest, became farmers or went into business in the western towns, they had more money, came as members of family groups or as single men

The Changing American Population American views of immigration welcome supply of cheap labor move into regions to expand population and market for land, resulted in an increase in political influence of western states

The Changing American Population Nativism A defense of native born people and hostility to the foreign-born Thought they were inferior Newcomers were socially unfit to live alongside people of older stock Were stealing jobs from native labor force Whigs outraged because so many new comers were voting Democratic Feared they would bring new radical ideas into national life

Were the Irish considered white in the 19th century? Let’s Review: Long history of oppression by the British. Arrived in the U.S. in the 1840s because of the potato famine. Mostly settled in cities, worked in factories. Extremely poor. Anti-Irish sentiment was really high for a number of reasons: Irish were poor and slums developed in cities people blamed the Irish for crime, disease, prostitution, alcohol abuse, etc. Irish were Catholic most Americans were Protestant and claimed Catholics could not be trusted because they would be more loyal to the Pope than to the U.S. government (to this day, the U.S. has only had one Catholic president). Know-Nothing Party was strongly anti-Irish and anti-immigrant.

Were the Irish considered white in the 19th century Goal: to recognize that racial categories in U.S. history have changed over time. In groups of 4 use documents to answer questions and complete chart. Be prepared to discuss these questions: Were the Irish considered “white” in the 19th century? What evidence supports the argument that they were considered white? What evidence supports the argument that they were not considered white? What did it mean to be white in the 19th century?