Immigration in the Antebellum Era British, Irish, German

Between 1830 – 1860 4.78 million immigrants 738,200 – British Immigration Facts Between 1830 – 1860 4.78 million immigrants 738,200 – British 1.86 million – Irish 1.49 million - German

British Post 1815 1830s – 1840s Welcomed by Americans Factory work Problems in England 1830s – 1840s English farmers and ag. Laborers Welcomed by Americans Farmers not prepared No subgroups Work in New England factories Growing urbanization, economic fluctuations Sold their land in England to buy land in America Saw British as economic assets in both rural and urban areas Associated with American cultural roots Encountered little hostility Areas to isolated therefore move to cities or already established farmlands British did not establish subgroups or ethnic communities and assimilated easily into America

Irish First refugee population Remained in port cities Worked in various jobs Establish communities Religious Democratic Party Mexican American War Poor and least skilled immigrants as a result of potato famine Due to limited resources stayed in port cities – NY, Philly, Balt., Boston, Charleston Canals, railroads, harbors, and textile mills Women came in search of work Encountered considerable job discrimination and competition from free blacks Hostilities lead to anti-Irish riots Churches, parochial school, mutual aid societies; sent for family members in Ireland Mostly catholic and clashed with many protestants in public schools Other political parties were anti immigrant and pushed temperance Many Irish served during the Mexican American War somewhat improved their standing in the American eyes

Germans Land acquisition Germans attract Germans Religious diversity Complete communities Opposed Whigs Cultural contributions Germans concentrated on acquiring farm land from Texas to Wisconsin and old Northwest- professionals and merchants settle in major cities Germans went to where other Germans were because of custom and language Many agricultural communities were established with nearly all German populations More isolated and had less political influence that the Irish or British Protestants, Catholics, and Jews Germans established schools (bilingual), churches, synagogues, newspapers, theaters, gymnasiums, militia and fire companies, and beer gardens Whigs supported temperance Kindergarten, beer halls and American celebration of Christmas