Irish and German Immigration to the American Cities 1800

1. Irish and German Immigration to the American Cities 1800

2. When? • The high point of the immigration was between 1820-1870

3. Who? • Nearly two million Irish immigrants came to America within the decade • An equal number of Germans immigrated as well

4. Why did the Irish leave? • The Irish left because of a potato blight. • This is a problem because potatoes are a big part of the Irish diet. This caused a great famine - A blighted potato

5. The Irish economy was failing due to the potato blight. • Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish leader “One business alone survives …that fortunate business is Irish coffin making.”

6. Why did the Germans leave? • Most of the Germans left for American Cities because of unemployment, civil unrest, hardships, and to escape religious and political persecution.

7. Around 1840, Germans started a revolution. Many of the educated Germans realized what was happening and escaped to the US to avoid persecution. • When the revolution failed, the working class emigrated for new economy opportunities and freedom from government control. • Many Germans could not afford the fare over so they became indentured servants.

8. What did they do? • They settled in towns and cities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. • Forced to take low paying jobs despite skills. • When the immigrants arrived, they filled a need jobs. Such as building canals , railroads, and simple and cheap labor. Much of the countries buildings, canals, such as the Erie Canal, and railroads were built from their labor. • The labor, in turn, created successful local economies. But the immigrants were still very poor.

9. Immigrants working on a railroad

10. Discrimination • The immigrants were not wanted in the US • The Native born citizens felt their jobs were being threatened by the immigrants. • Many city stores and services would not hire the immigrants. So the immigrants moved to more laborious jobs to make ends meat. • The Irish were discriminated against because of their Irish Catholic religion. • The Germans were discriminated against obvious foreignism • Many Native citizens looked down on the social activities of the new Germans.

11. A sign preventing Irish from applying for a job.

12. Quiz Time! • Why did the Irish come to America? • Why did the German? • How many German and Irish came to the US. • Name a something the immigrants built • What states did they settle in? • Why were the Irish discriminated against? • The German?

13. Facts • The Native born citizens felt threatened by the Irish and Germans, Therefore they were the subjects discriminated • The Immigrants helped fill a need for simple and cheap labor jobs. • The new labors by the immigrants created strong local economies • The Irish and German left their native countries because of famine, unemployment, civil unrest, hardships, and to escape religious and political persecution • The immigrants were involved with many extensive and hard labor projects such as railroads, buildings, and the Erie canal.