Immigration and Development of Cities Notes

• What two factors made immigration increase in America in the 1800s?

  1. The growth of industry
  2. The opening of the West
• About how many immigrants came to America between 1840 and 1860?

  4 million
• Where did most of these immigrants come from?

  Germany and Ireland
• What are "push" factors?

  Reasons people want to leave their country
• What are "pull" factors?


  Reasons why people would want to go to a particular country
• Examples of "push" factors:

  • War
  • Poverty
  • Unemployment
• Examples of "pull" factors:

  • Jobs, freedom, wealth
• What two reasons caused the Irish to come to America in the 1800s?

  1. Irish Potato Famine
  2. Little opportunity for wealth
• Where did most of the Irish settle?

  Large cities on the East Coast
• What jobs did the Irish have?

  Men were builders of canals, roads, and railroads (unskilled labor)

  Women were domestic servants
• Why did many Germans leave their country?

  Germany offered restrictive freedom
• Where did they tend to settle?

  More toward the Midwest
• What jobs did Germans have?

  Farmers, masons, tailors, seamstresses (skilled labor)
• Why were some native-born Americans opposed to immigration?

  They were fearful that immigrants would take their jobs
• How did religion contribute to problems between Americans and immigrants?

  Immigrants were causing religious tension as most of them were Catholic, whereas most Americans at the time were Protestants
• What is the name for Americans who opposed immigration?

  Nativists
• What is the name of the political party they form?

  Know-nothings
• What are their three main goals?

  1. Keep immigrants from becoming citizens
  2. Keep immigrants from holding office
  3. Keep Catholics from holding office
• How did the Industrial Revolution help the development of cities?

  Led to the creation of large factories and corporations
• How did the Transportation Revolution influence the growth of cities?

  Made it possible for more Americans to get to cities
• What new socioeconomic group develops?

  The Middle Class
• What jobs did the middle class have?

  Manufacturers, merchants, craftspeople
• How did the middle class differ from the other two classes?

  Not as wealthy as the upper class, but more wealthy than the lower class
• What were some of the problems in living conditions in the cities?

  They didn't have enough housing, or tenements were overcrowded and unsanitary
• What other problems were prevalent in the cities?

  Few public services, water was polluted, garbage left in streets, criminal activity, fires were constant and big issues.
• How much do cities grow between 1820 and 1850?

  In 1820, 7% of Americans lived in cities; in 1850, the number doubled.
• Where were most cities in America located?

  Most cities were located in the North