Immigration

Great Lull Seven Years’ War in Europe (1756) American Revolution French Revolution Napoleonic Wars ( ) Great Britain prohibits slavery

American Population Started to grow rapidly –Why? cheap land job opportunities others were forced –From Where? Immigrants from Western Europe

The Irish The potato was the staple food source for the Irish A fungus destroyed the potato crop and caused the Potato Famine As new immigrants, they took some of the lowliest jobs available (construction or laying rail road tracks) Irish women usually worked as household workers

The Germans Harsh rulers and dictators on Germany –Large groups of people had taken part in revolutions which failed –Forced to flee to the United States Many German immigrants moved west upon arrival to the United States Some 60,000 fled to America after the failed Revolutions of 1848.

The American People Nativist: –Felt that the land of the United States was set aside for white, American born Protestants –Irish immigrants were mainly Catholics which did not sit well with the native

Know Nothings An organized group of nativists from the New York area When questions about the organization, they would only answer “I know nothing” Had someone run for president in 1856

Declines in Immigration Reproduction within the United States –Percent of immigrants decreases –6 out of 7 people Panic of 1837 –Andrew Jackson’s attack on the 2 nd National Bank –Followed by a 5 year depression American Civil War –