1. Causes & Effects
of Immigration

2. Immigrants flock to America
In the mid-1800s, immigrants came to America by the thousands
Most came from western Europe
England, Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia
Some came from China

4. Push Factors – Emigration (Leaving)
Population growth
Europe's population boomed after 1750, and the land became overcrowded
Agricultural changes
As Europe's population grew, so did cities
Landowners wanted to make money selling food to those cities
New methods made it more efficient to farm large areas of land than to rent small plots to tenants
Landlords forced tenants off the small farms

5. Push Factors – Cause of Emigration
Crop failures
Poor harvests made it difficult for small farmers to pay their debts
Some farmers chose to start over in America
Crop failures also led to hunger, causing people to emigrate
Industrial Revolution
Goods produced in factories became cheaper than goods produced by artisans
Artisans were out of work, some took factory jobs, others emigrated
See if they can draw parallels between the info on this slide and the bar graph from slide #2.

6. Push Factors – Cause of Emigration
Religion
Quakers fled Norway
Jews left Germany
Political Turmoil
Germans came after a failed revolution in Germany in 1848
The picture is of Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, he was a German prince and military officer in both the Austrian army. He was the Commissioner General of the Adelsverein (an immigration company based in present day-Germany/Austria), he spearheaded the establishment of colonies of German immigrants in Texas. Prince Solms named New Braunfels, Texas in honor of his homeland. When the settlement filled up, many moved further west to Fredericksburg.

7. Pull Factors –Immigration
Freedom
“…to practice the teaching and religion he prefers.”
Economic opportunity
Immigrants sought a land where they could support their families and have a better future.
Immigration often rose during times of U.S. prosperity and fell during hard times.
See if they can draw parallels from the Germans on the previous slide and how it impacted German immigration.

8. Pull Factors – Cause of Immigration
Plenty of land
Because of the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican Cession, United States offered millions more acres of land.
To land-starved Europeans, America was a land of opportunity.
The story on the graphic is that imagine you are a farmer living in Germany at around 1700, you own 100 acres of land. If you have kids you have a couple of options on what to do with the land. You can give it all to the first-born son, or you can divide amongst the kids. Well, after about 3 to 4 generations that division will be so small that the kids will be receiving only a couple of acres. So, land was a very attractive pull for a German or Irish immigrant.

9. Effects of Immigration
Many problems
Overcrowded cities
Lack of sanitation
Disease
Crime
No housing
Dealing with problems
Aid societies founded for immigrants
Politicians helped in exchange for votes
Police forces created

10. Opposition to Immigration
Native born Americans feared immigrants
Too foreign to learn American ways
Would outnumber natives
Nativists worked to oppose immigrants
Refused to hire them
Formed societies to keep them from running for office
Formed a political party

11. Citizenship Immigrants had a strong impact on American culture
Many immigrants became citizens of the United States
Immigrants appreciated the nation’s values and laws
Immigrants who want to become a citizen must pass multiple exams on:
English
The U.S. political system
The rights and duties of an American citizen

12. Sample Citizenship Questions
Who was the first President?
George Washington John Adams Abraham Lincoln Thomas Jefferson
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
World War II Civil War Korean War World War I
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the President Pro Tempore the Speaker of the House the Secretary of State the Secretary of the Treasury
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific Ocean Southern Ocean Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted
December 7, 1787 July 4, 1789 July 4, 1776 March 4, 1789
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution the Emancipation Proclamation the Declaration of Independence the Articles of Confederation