1. Immigration & Urban Challenges

3. Flood of Immigrants 1840-1860 4 million settled in U.S.
More than 3 million came from Ireland & Germany
Many were fleeing economic or political trouble

4. Irish
Ireland suffered from a famine caused by “potato blight” – rot in potatoes
More than a million died of starvation, more came to U.S.
They settled in cities in Massachusetts, NJ, NY, & Pennsylvania
Most were poor, working at unskilled jobs or building canals and railroads
Women worked as domestic servants
Most were Catholic

5. Germans Some Germans came to escape political persecution
Most came for economic reasons-many came with money of their own
More likely to become farmers than the Irish – moved to mid-western states where there was more land
But many worked as tailors, seamstresses, bricklayers, servants, cabinetmakers, bakers, & food merchants

6. German Farmers

7. Anti-Immigration
Many native-born Americans felt threatened by immigrants: losing jobs, immigrants religion & culture
Americans who opposed immigration were called “Nativists”

8. Anti-Immigration cont.
Those Americans opposed to immigration formed a political party called the “Know-Nothing Party”
Pushed for laws to limit foreigners (specifically Catholics) from becoming citizens or holding public office
Wanted to require them to live in U.S. for 21 years before becoming citizens

9. Rapid Growth of Cities
The rise of industry and growth of cities changed American life
Business owners, skilled workers, merchants, manufactures, professionals, & master craftspeople made up a new social class: MIDDLE CLASS
They built nice homes and engaged in a rich cultural life: theater, clubs, libraries, concerts, & lectures

10. Urban Problems

11. Due to lack of transportation, workers needed to live close to work – crowded cities
Lack of safe housing – most lived in Tenements
Poorly designed apartment buildings – dirty, overcrowded & unsafe
Majority of cities did not have – clean water, public health regulations, sanitary garbage and “waste” management systems
Diseases spread quickly & epidemics were common

12. Urban Problems cont. Urban areas became centers for criminal activity
Most cities including New York, Boston, & Philadelphia had no permanent or organized force to fight crime
Also, little organized fire protection – most cities relied on volunteers that used hand pumps and buckets to fight fires