The European Wave - America's Immigration History | Part 3
Summary
TLDRThe video script presents a historical overview of immigration to the United States during the 19th century. It highlights the influx of immigrants, predominantly from Britain, Ireland, and Germany, who were attracted by opportunities in agriculture and the industrial revolution. The Irish, largely unskilled, contributed significantly to the construction of railroads and canals, while many Germans became farmers in the Midwest or craftsmen in cities. Asian immigrants, particularly from China, worked on the transcontinental railroad and in mines. The narrative also touches on the demographic profile of immigrants, noting the male-dominated migration and the eventual shift in Irish immigration patterns. It underscores the importance of established immigrant networks in settling newcomers, providing support and employment opportunities. The summary concludes with the rise of anti-immigrant sentiments in the 1850s, particularly against Irish-Catholic immigrants fleeing the potato famine, and hints at more significant xenophobic challenges to come.
Takeaways
- 📚 In the 1830s, immigration to America significantly increased, with tens of thousands of immigrants, primarily from Britain, Ireland, and Germany, arriving on the eastern shores.
- 🏞️ Immigrants were attracted to the cheap farmland available due to westward expansion and the manufacturing boom in cities due to the industrial revolution.
- 👷 The Irish, mainly unskilled laborers, were instrumental in building railroads and canals, working in textile mills, and ports.
- 👨🌾 Half of the German immigrants became farmers, predominantly in the Midwest, while the other half became craftsmen in urban areas.
- 🌏 Asian immigrants, predominantly from China, began working as laborers, especially on the transcontinental railroad and in mines.
- 🚹 19th-century immigration was predominantly male, with a notable exception being the Irish, where more women immigrated than men.
- 🔄 Immigrants often follow established patterns, moving to cities in the U.S. where they have connections, which can provide jobs and housing.
- 🛳️ The first job for many immigrants was often with the person or company that picked them up at the docks upon arrival.
- 📈 From the 1830s to the 1850s, the annual number of immigrants to the U.S. tripled again to about 170,000.
- 🌆 By the 1850s, with the U.S. population surpassing 20 million, the first significant anti-immigrant sentiments emerged, particularly against Irish-Catholic immigrants.
- 🍃 The potato famine in Ireland led to a large influx of Irish immigrants seeking to escape poverty and death, contributing to the rise of anti-immigrant feelings.
- 🚀 Despite early xenophobia, the script suggests that a much larger immigration boom was on the horizon.
Q & A
What was the primary reason for the increase in immigration to America in the 1830s?
-The primary reason for the increase in immigration to America in the 1830s was the availability of cheap farmland due to westward expansion and the manufacturing boom in cities sparked by the industrial revolution.
Which nationalities were the main contributors to the immigrant population in the 1830s in America?
-The main contributors to the immigrant population in the 1830s in America were from Britain, Ireland, and Germany.
What type of work did the Irish immigrants predominantly engage in during the 19th century?
-The Irish immigrants were mainly unskilled laborers who built railroads and canals, took jobs in textile mills in the Northeast, or worked in the ports.
What was the general occupation of the German immigrants who moved to America during the 19th century?
-About half of the German immigrants became farmers, primarily in the Midwest, while the other half became craftsmen in urban areas.
Why did Asian immigrants, particularly from China, start coming to America?
-Asian immigrants, mainly from China, began crossing the Pacific to work as laborers, particularly on the transcontinental railroad or in the mines.
According to Professor Scott Wong, what was the typical demographic of immigrants during the 19th century?
-During the 19th century, immigration was usually male-dominated, with males in their prime working years between 18 and 25, with the Irish being an exception where more women immigrated than men.
How do immigrants often choose their destination in the United States?
-Immigrants often follow established patterns, moving from one village or city to another city in the United States where someone from their community has already settled, as these connections can help arrange jobs and places to live.
What was the common belief about how immigrants secured their first job in the United States?
-It was often said that immigrants' first job was determined by whoever picked them up at the docks when they arrived by boat, which in modern times has shifted to whoever picks them up at the airport.
How did the number of immigrants arriving in the US each year change from the 1830s to the 1850s?
-The number of immigrants arriving in the US each year tripled from the decade before and then tripled again in just two more decades, from the 1830s to the 1850s, reaching about 170,000 by the 1850s.
When did America's first measurable anti-immigrant feelings begin to emerge?
-America's first measurable anti-immigrant feelings began to emerge in the 1850s when the total population passed 20 million and started to get crowded, mainly targeting Irish-Catholic immigrants escaping the potato famine.
What was the significance of the potato famine in relation to Irish immigration to America?
-The potato famine had a significant impact on Irish immigration to America as it led to a large number of Irish, particularly Irish-Catholic immigrants, seeking refuge from poverty and death in their homeland.
What does the phrase 'xenophobia' refer to, and how did it manifest in the 1850s in America?
-Xenophobia refers to an unreasonable fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures. In the 1850s, it manifested as anti-immigrant sentiments, particularly against the Irish-Catholic immigrants who were arriving in large numbers.
Outlines
🌐 Immigration Surge in the 19th Century
In the 1830s, America experienced a significant increase in immigration, particularly from Britain, Ireland, and Germany. This surge was driven by the availability of cheap farmland due to westward expansion and the manufacturing boom in cities triggered by the industrial revolution. The Irish predominantly took up unskilled labor, constructing railroads and canals, working in textile mills, or in port jobs. Germans were split between farming in the midwest and becoming craftsmen in urban areas. Asian immigrants, mainly from China, arrived to work on the transcontinental railroad and in mines. Immigration was predominantly male, with the Irish being a notable exception. Immigrants followed established migration patterns to places where they had connections, which often led to job and housing arrangements. The first job for many was with whoever met them at the docks or, in modern times, the airport. By the 1850s, the annual immigrant influx had tripled to about 170,000, and as the population grew, so did anti-immigrant sentiments, particularly against the large influx of Irish-Catholics fleeing the potato famine. Despite the initial xenophobia, it was minor compared to what was to come later.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Immigration
💡Westward Expansion
💡Industrial Revolution
💡Irish Immigrants
💡German Immigrants
💡Asian Immigrants
💡Transcontinental Railroad
💡Anti-Immigrant Sentiments
💡Immigration Patterns
💡Xenophobia
💡Population Growth
💡Potato Famine
Highlights
After the 1830s, there was a significant increase in immigration to America, with tens of thousands of immigrants arriving from Britain, Ireland, and Germany.
Immigrants were attracted to the availability of cheap farmland due to westward expansion and the manufacturing boom in cities.
The Irish immigrants primarily worked as unskilled laborers, building railroads and canals, and working in textile mills and ports.
German immigrants were divided between farming in the Midwest and working as craftsmen in urban areas.
Asian immigrants, predominantly from China, began working as laborers on the transcontinental railroad and in mines.
19th-century immigration was predominantly male, with the Irish being an exception, as more Irish women immigrated than men.
Immigrants often followed established patterns, moving to cities in the U.S. where others from their village or city had already settled.
The first job for immigrants was often arranged by someone who picked them up at the docks or, more recently, the airport.
Between the 1830s and 1850s, the annual number of immigrants to the U.S. tripled to about 170,000.
The 1850s saw the emergence of America's first measurable anti-immigrant sentiments, primarily directed at Irish-Catholic immigrants.
Anti-immigrant feelings were fueled by the large influx of Irish immigrants escaping the potato famine.
Despite early xenophobia, the upcoming boom would bring about more significant challenges related to immigration.
Immigration patterns have historically been influenced by social networks and the presence of familiar communities in the U.S.
The first job for many immigrants was often secured through contacts made upon arrival in the U.S.
Immigration to America has been shaped by economic opportunities, such as the availability of farmland and the industrial revolution.
The demographic of immigrants evolved over time, with a shift from predominantly male to a more balanced gender ratio.
Immigration has had a significant impact on the development of American infrastructure, such as the railroads and canals.
The series explores America's complex history with immigration, highlighting the economic and social contributions of immigrants.
Transcripts
After more than four decades of relatively little immigration into America after its
founding, in the 1830’s, tens of thousands of immigrants began arriving on her eastern
shores, again, mainly from Britain, Ireland and Germany.
Some were attracted to the cheap farmland that was made available by westward expansion,
while others took advantage of the manufacturing boom in the cities sparked by the industrial
revolution.
The Irish were mainly unskilled laborers who built most of the railroads and canals, took
jobs in the emerging textile mill towns in the Northeast, or worked in the ports.
About half of the Germans became farmers, mainly in the midwest, and the other half
became craftsman in urban areas.
Asian immigrants - mainly from China - began crossing the Pacific to work as laborers,
particularly on the transcontinental railroad or in the mines.
[History Professor Scott Wong] “Immigration also during the 19th century was usually male
dominated—males in their prime working years between the years of 18-25.
The Irish being the one exception.
Eventually there would be more Irish women who immigrated than Irish men.
Immigrants to this day often follow established patterns.
They leave on village or one city and go to another city in the United States because
someone has already established that pattern for them.
People go to where they know people.
And those people here can often arrange for jobs and places to live and so on.
It was often said that your first job coming off the boat was whoever picked you up at
the docks.
Now people say your first job is whoever picked you up at the airport.
[Show graph] After tripling from the decade before, in
just two more decades, from the 1830s to the 1850s, the amount of immigrants arriving in
the US each year tripled again, to about 170,000.
By the 1850s, when the total population of the country passed 20 million and things began
to get a bit crowded, America’s first measurable anti-immigrant feelings began to take root,
mainly targeting Irish-catholic immigrants who were arriving in large numbers to escape
the poverty and death of the potato famine that was hitting them hard at home.
But with a huge boom on the horizon, this early xenophobia was nothing compared to what
would come later.
Thanks for watching part three of our six-part series on America’s History of Immigration.
Click on the screen to go back and start watching part one, or the next video, part four, or
our newest video, or our video on the most amazing accidental scientific discoveries
in history.
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