Chapter 9

1. Chapter 9 Section 4

2. Immigrants • The economic growth in the nation created a demand for cheap labor • These jobs attracted immigrants, most of whom arrived hungry, penniless and eager • During the 1820s around 129,000 people immigrated to the US. This number grew to 2.8 million in 1850s • Almost all immigrants came from northern Europe (Ireland and Germany) and settled in the north and the west • Irish immigration grew in the mid-1840s due to the Irish Potato Famine- the potato crop failed and over 1.1 million Irish died • After settling in the US the Irish became naturalized- they were granted citizenship

3. Immigrants • Many Germans came to America during this time • They settled in MI and WI on farms or in NYC and Chicago • With these new people came new culture- religion was Roman Catholic • These new immigrants also face discrimination- unequal treatment of a group of people because of the nationality, race, sex or religion • One reason they faced these problems was the Irish were willing to accept lower paying jobs- they were used a strike breakers • Another reason was because of the Roman Catholic religion. The rituals and Pope’s authority were problems • Catholics always protested when their children were forced to read the Protestant version of the Bible in school. They also fought laws restricting drinking, gambling and sports which they did not see as immoral

4. North-South Tensions • Reforms also created problems between the North and the South • Churches in the South presented problems- their issue on slavery • Public school and women’s rights reform created problems in the South because they were signs that southerners were not taking care of their families • It was not uncommon for the man to have complete control over his family in the South