Early Immigration in the United States

Do Now Take out your immigration worksheet When did your family immigrate to the United States? What hardships did they face?

Push-Pull Factors Push-Pull factors are said to be the cause of immigration to the U.S. 

Push-Pull Factors

Push Factors Push factors are circumstances that generally push people out of their native country. 

Push Factors 1. Population Growth: Europe had better food and homes causing a population growth.  Europe soon became overcrowded.

Push Factors 2. Agricultural Changes: Landlords took advantage of city growth because of overcrowding.  They forced residents out so that they could farm in large areas.

Push Factors 3. Crop Failures: Poor farmers were in debt because of crop failures.  It also caused them to starve.  They chose to redeem themselves in America instead.

Push Factors 4. Industrial Revolution: Factories made cheaper materials that artisans (skilled workers who make things by hand) could not compete with.  Because of their unemployment status, some artisans decided to come to the United States.

Push Factors 5. Religious and Political Chaos: Quakers from Norway, and Jewish people from Germany left to stay away from religious harassment.  Germans also came because the German Revolution didn't work out.

Question 1 In your opinion, which of the push factors was most significant? Explain your answer.

Pull Factors Pull factors are reasons or actions that attracted emigrants to the United States.

Pull Factors 1. Freedom: In the United States, everyone had the freedom to practice anything they desire.

Pull Factors 2. Economic Opportunity: Immigrants looked for a place to live a better life, and they found it in America. 

Pull Factors 3. Plentiful Land: The large amounts of land the United States gained (Louisiana Purchase, Texas Annexation, Oregon Country) attracted Europeans who faced overcrowding in their country.

Question 2 In your opinion, which of the pull factors was most significant? Explain your answer.

Question 3 Read the text carefully. What reasons did the Scandinavians, Germans, and Irish come to the United States?

The Scandinavians The Scandinavians came to the United States for economic opportunity

The Germans People from Germany left to stay away from religious harassment.  Germans also came because the German Revolution didn't work out.

The Irish Most immigrants from Ireland were Catholic and were denied some rights, so they decided to come to the United States. 

The Irish In 1845, Ireland's main food crop, the potato, stopped growing causing a famine.  This food shortage forced about two million people to emigrate from Ireland. 

Question 4 What contributions did Germans bring to America?

Answer The Christmas tree, hamburgers and hotdogs, gyms, and kindergartens came from Germany.

Question 5 What are some problems the Irish faced when they arrived in America?

Answer When they came to America, Irish men and women had no savings with little education. 

Answer (Continued) Men worked building railroads in very dangerous conditions where many died. 

Answer (Continued) Women became servants.  They often had to fight for their jobs because they were competing with free African Americans. 

Question 6 Who are nativists? How did they feel about immigration? List 3 problems they blamed on immigrants.

Answer Nativists were people who resisted immigration. Nativists believed that immigration threatened the future of “native,” or American-born citizens

Answer (Continued) Some nativists accused immigrants of taking jobs from “real” Americans, and were angry that immigrants would work for lower wages.

Answer (Continued) Many Catholics, especially the Irish, experienced discrimination for their religious beliefs.

Answer (Continued) Other accused immigrants of bringing crime and disease to U.S. cities.

Wrap Up Questions 1. What are push-pull factors?

Wrap Up Questions 2. What push factors brought people to the United States?

Wrap Up Questions 3. What pull factors brought people to the United States?

Wrap Up Questions 4. What countries did a large number of people immigrate from?

Wrap Up Questions 5. Who are nativists? Why did they resist immigration?