The European Wave - America's Immigration History | Part 3

TDC

3 Dec 201402:59

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

00:00

🌐 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

Immigration refers to the movement of people from one country to another with the intention of residing there, either temporarily or permanently. In the video's context, it discusses the significant increase in immigration to the United States during the 19th century, particularly from Britain, Ireland, and Germany, and the various reasons that drove this movement, such as the availability of cheap farmland and the industrial revolution.

💡Westward Expansion

Westward Expansion denotes the historical era in the United States during which European settlers spread across the western portion of the country. The video mentions this as a factor that attracted immigrants due to the availability of cheap farmland as a result of the westward movement.

💡Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period during the 18th and 19th centuries where agrarian societies in Europe and America became industrial and urban. The video highlights the manufacturing boom in cities as a result of the Industrial Revolution, which created opportunities for immigrants, particularly in urban areas.

💡Irish Immigrants

Irish immigrants refers to people who moved from Ireland to other countries, particularly during the 19th century when the Great Famine caused mass emigration. The video notes that the Irish were mainly unskilled laborers who contributed significantly to the construction of railroads and canals and worked in textile mills and ports.

💡German Immigrants

German immigrants are those who migrated from Germany to other regions. The script specifies that about half of the German immigrants to the U.S. became farmers, primarily in the Midwest, while the other half became craftsmen in urban areas, showcasing the diversity of their contributions to American society.

💡Asian Immigrants

Asian immigrants, predominantly from China as mentioned in the video, began arriving in the U.S. to work as laborers, especially on the transcontinental railroad and in mines. This highlights the significant role Asian immigrants played in the development of American infrastructure during the 19th century.

💡Transcontinental Railroad

The Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad network that connected the eastern and western coasts of the United States. The video indicates that it was a major employer of immigrant labor, particularly from China, and was a symbol of the nation's westward expansion and industrial progress.

💡Anti-Immigrant Sentiments

Anti-immigrant sentiments refer to negative attitudes or feelings towards immigrants. The video discusses the emergence of such sentiments in the U.S. during the 1850s, particularly targeting Irish-Catholic immigrants, which reflects a historical challenge faced by new arrivals in integrating into American society.

💡Immigration Patterns

Immigration patterns describe the trends and routes that immigrants follow when moving to a new country. The script explains that immigrants often follow established patterns, moving to cities in the U.S. where others from their village or city have already settled, as these connections can help secure jobs and housing.

💡Xenophobia

Xenophobia is the fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures. The video uses this term to describe the early anti-immigrant feelings that began to manifest in the U.S., especially towards the Irish, which is an important aspect of the historical narrative of immigration in America.

💡Population Growth

Population growth refers to an increase in the number of individuals in a population. The video notes that as the total population of the U.S. passed 20 million in the 1850s, feelings of crowding and the first measurable anti-immigrant sentiments began to emerge, indicating a correlation between population density and social attitudes.

💡Potato Famine

The Potato Famine, also known as the Great Famine, was a period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. The video mentions that many Irish immigrants came to the U.S. to escape the devastating effects of the famine, which was a significant driving force behind Irish immigration during the 19th century.

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.