1. Immigration & Urbanization
13.2

2. First Wave of Immigrants
1840 – 1860: Over 4 million immigrants came to the USA
Most were from North West Europe

3. Irish Flee the Potato Famine
1840 – 1855: 1 million Irish die of starvation while 2 million flee to the USA
Were very poor; settled in cities of Northeast
Created 1st large Catholic communities in USA = dealt with discrimination

5. Germans & Scandinavians Flee from War & Revolution
Mixture of Protestant, Catholic, & Jewish populations
Many moved to Midwest to farm.
Jewish communities remained in Northeast

8. Nativist Response
Many Native-born white Protestant Americans felt threatened by immigrants for economic & cultural reasons.
Irish were particularly targeted for their Catholicism
Know-Nothing Party: Nativist political party that gained control of MA legislature in 1850s = excluded Catholics!

11. Growth of Cities = Urbanization
Industry encourages immigration & migration to American cities
Middle Class: Merchants, manufacturers, educated professionals, & master craftsmen
Entertainment and leisure followed the influx into the cities

13. Urban Problems
Immigrants, minorities, & poor were forced to live in filthy, crowded, and dangerous neighborhoods.
Tenements: overcrowded & poorly built apartment buildings with no sanitation or ventilation.
Cities did not have zoning laws or health codes.