Immigration & Urbanization 13.2. First Wave of Immigrants 1840 – 1860: Over 4 million immigrants came to the USA Most were from North West Europe.

Immigration & UrbanizationImmigration & Urbanization13.213.2

First Wave of ImmigrantsFirst Wave of Immigrants1840 – 1860: Over 4 million 1840 – 1860: Over 4 million immigrants came to the USAimmigrants came to the USA

Most were from North West EuropeMost were from North West Europe

Irish Flee the Potato FamineIrish Flee the Potato Famine1840 – 1855: 1 million Irish die of 1840 – 1855: 1 million Irish die of starvation while 2 million flee to the starvation while 2 million flee to the USAUSA

Were very poor; settled in cities of Were very poor; settled in cities of NortheastNortheast

Created 1Created 1stst large Catholic communities large Catholic communities in USA = dealt with discriminationin USA = dealt with discrimination

Germans Germans && ScandinaviansScandinavians Flee from Flee from War & RevolutionWar & Revolution

Mixture of Protestant, Catholic, & Mixture of Protestant, Catholic, & Jewish populationsJewish populations

Many moved to Midwest to farm.Many moved to Midwest to farm.

Jewish communities remained in Jewish communities remained in NortheastNortheast

Nativist ResponseNativist ResponseMany Native-born white Protestant Many Native-born white Protestant Americans felt threatened by immigrants for Americans felt threatened by immigrants for economic & cultural reasons.economic & cultural reasons.

Irish were particularly targeted for their Irish were particularly targeted for their CatholicismCatholicism

Know-Nothing PartyKnow-Nothing Party: Nativist political party : Nativist political party that gained control of MA legislature in that gained control of MA legislature in 1850s = excluded Catholics!1850s = excluded Catholics!

Growth of Cities = UrbanizationGrowth of Cities = Urbanization

Industry encourages immigration & Industry encourages immigration & migration to American citiesmigration to American cities

Middle Class: Middle Class: Merchants, manufacturers, Merchants, manufacturers, educated professionals, & master craftsmeneducated professionals, & master craftsmen

Entertainment and leisure followed the Entertainment and leisure followed the influx into the citiesinflux into the cities

Urban ProblemsUrban ProblemsImmigrants, minorities, & poor were forced Immigrants, minorities, & poor were forced to live in filthy, crowded, and dangerous to live in filthy, crowded, and dangerous neighborhoods.neighborhoods.

TenementsTenements: overcrowded & poorly built : overcrowded & poorly built apartment buildings with no sanitation apartment buildings with no sanitation or ventilation. or ventilation.

Cities did not have zoning laws or Cities did not have zoning laws or health codes.health codes.