1. Immigration to the United States
Millions of
immigrants
came to the U.S.
before the Civil
War seeking a
better life

2. I. What is immigration?
Immigration- A. movement of people from one country to another to make a new home.
Starting in the 1830’s - millions of people from Europe came to America
1. Immigrants - people who settle in a new country

3. Why did they choose the U.S.?
The U.S. is known as a B. “melting pot” –
1. accepting people from many countries

4. How did they get here? A. Steerage – the cheapest deck on the ship.
The conditions were awful. People were jammed together in filthy conditions for up to a month or more.

5. D. Where did they come from?
Almost 10.2 million immigrants came to the United States mostly N and W European countries

6. II. Why did they come?

7. A. Push Factors
1. Population growth - Europe’s population boomed-land became a. overcrowded.
2. Agricultural changes - European cities grew. a. Landowners forced renters (who lived on small plots) off their land so they could farm it & sell food to city dwellers.

8. More Push Factors
3. Crop failures - Small farmers chose to start over in America. a. Hunger caused people to emigrate
4. Industrial Revolution – a. Goods produced in factories became cheaper than those made by artisans, who were now out of work.
Religious and Political Turmoil - To a. escape religious persecution, Quakers fled Norway and Jews left Germany

9. 1. Ireland million
Settled west of the Appalachian Mtns. -wanted to be farmers

10. a. Irish Potato Famine
In 1845,a disease attacked Ireland’s main food crop, the potato
1.Killed 1 million people & many emigrated
2. severe food shortage – famine.
By 1854, between 1.5 and 2 million Irish had fled their homeland

11. Germany million
German immigrants came to farm the abundant land . They began farming in Ohio, Missouri River Valleys and the Great Lakes region.

12. B. Pull Factors
1. Freedom – a. Freedom to practice the religion he/she prefers
2. Economic opportunity - Immigrants sought a place where have a better future.
3. Abundant land – The Louisiana Purchase & Mexican Cession gave the United States millions of acres of land.

13. Pull Factors
4. Railroad Companies were given large land grants by U.S. gov.
a.Wanted people to settle out west so that they could carry goods & people across the country ($$$)

14. V. Consequences of Immigration
Immigrants flocked to American cities because that is where the work was
A. Cities became overcrowded and filthy because America was not ready for the influx of new people
B. Great for business – 1. lots of cheap labor - kept wages low

16. Some Americans Oppose Immigration
C. Immigrants faced prejudice –
Native-born Americans called themselves 1. Nativists. They thought immigrants could not learn American ways. Some nativists refused to hire immigrants and put up signs like “No Irish need apply.”
Formed a. “Know Nothing” political party