United States History Student Edition

Immigrants as a Percentage of Population Immigration to the United States had a significant effect on the country’s population.

1820

1860

CIVICS CONNECTION 1. Identifying How much larger was the immigrant population as a share of the overall population in 1860 compared to 1820? 2. Drawing Conclusions How might a nativist react to this information?

American Citizens Immigrants (not naturalized)

87%

99.5%

13%

Less than 1%

Source: Historical Census Browser, University of Virginia

Increased Immigration Between 1840 and 1860, immigration to the United States grew sharply. The greatest number of immigrants came from Ireland. A plant disease— the potato blight—destroyed most of Ireland’s food supply in the 1840s. The Irish people faced famine , an extreme shortage of food. About 1.5 million Irish emigrants—people who leave their home to move elsewhere—came to the United States between 1846 and 1860. The second-largest group of immigrants in the United States between 1820 and 1860 came from Germany. Some of those leaving Germany sought work and opportunity, while others fled to escape political problems at home. European immigrants brought languages, customs, religions, and traditions to their new country. Nativists and the Know-Nothings In the 1830s and 1840s, some people began to resist immigration. They were known as nativists (NAY•tih•vihsts). Nativists believed that immigration threatened the future of “native”— American-born—citizens and the country’s way of life. They often blamed immigrants for a number of problems in American society. Some nativists accused immigrants of taking jobs from “real” Americans and were angry that immigrants would work for lower wages. Others accused immigrants of bringing crime and disease to U.S. cities.

In 1849, nativists formed a new political organization that called for stricter citizenship laws. Because secretive group members often answered questions about their organization with the statement “I know nothing,” the group came to be known as the Know-Nothing Party. In 1854, the group, and others with similar beliefs, officially became known as the American Party. 7 CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 1. Identifying From which two nations did most immigrants come in the mid-1800s? 2. Identifying Cause and Effect What was the main reason that so many Irish people emigrated to the U.S. during this time? LESSON ACTIVITIES 1. Narrative Writing Suppose that you are a young European immigrant who moved to the United States during the mid-1800s. Write a letter to a friend in your home country explaining why you emigrated and how you feel about living in a new place. 2. Presenting With a partner, take the roles of American factory workers in the year 1830. Working together, create a petition demanding better working conditions at the factory. Cite specific issues, problems, and demands. Present your petition to the class, and give a short speech to convince your audience that it is necessary and beneficial to change the working conditions in your factory.

famine an extreme shortage of food

nativist a person opposed to immigration

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