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Old Immigration
The time period know as "Old Immigration." These immigrants were mostly from Ireland and Germany, and immigrated mostly to the northeastern states. Over 4 million people entered the United States during this time period. Many of these immigrants worked hard, long hours in low-paying factory jobs. -
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The Great Famine (Irish Potato Famine)
Due to a potato disease between 1845 and 1851, almost all potato crops in Ireland died. Because of Ireland's total dependency on potatoes at the time, over 1 million people in Ireland died. This was the main cause of Irish immigration to the U.S. during this time period. Over 1 million Irishmen immigrated to the U.S. during the potato famine. -
German Revolution of 1848
This German Revolution was caused by the goal of the citizens of the German states for a unified nation. Also, the Germans wanted civil rights. The failure of the revolution caused many Germans to immigrate to America. Unlike the Irish immigrants, the Germans were educated and skilled workers. They mostly immigrated to the cities of Milwaukee, Cleveland, Hoboken, Cinncinati, and Chicago. -
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Number of Immigrants and the Navists
From 1851 to 1855, there were 1,748,000 people that immigrated to the United States. Of this number, about half were from Ireland, and one-quarter were from Germany. This influx of immigrants caused many native-born Americans to ceate a movement called nativism. Navists were native-born Americans who feared the impact of immigrants on American political and social life. The Know-Nothing party was an effect of nativism. -
The Know-Nothing Party
Created in 1854 by American nativists, the members of this political party believed that the country was being over-run with German and Irish Catholic immigrants. The party consisted mostly of Protestant white males over 21. The name of the party came from the belief that when member of the party were asked about the activities of the party he was supposed to reply, "I know nothing." The party, having achieved success in northeastern states in 1854, sharply declined in 1856. -
Life and Work of Irish Immigrants
By the end of the 1850s, Irish immigrants held the majority in factories. They took all the low-paying, unskilled jobs that needed to be done, such as, building railroads, digging canals, and working as servants. Roman Catholic Irish immigrants were considered to be in the lowest class in the Northeast, living in overcrowded ghettos. However, despite the living conditions and jobs, they still had freedom. -
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The Civil War
The Civil War was the war between the eleven Confederate states and the Union states. European immigrants mostly fought on the Union side. Immigration declined during this time period, though not drastically. -
The period of "New Immigration" begins
In the 1880s, many people from Eastern and Southern Europe began to immigrate to the United States. This signified the beginning of "New Immigration." These people mostly came from Italy, Austra-Hungary, the Balkan States, and Russia. Although people from Western and Northern Europe still immigrated to the United States, this new flow of Eastern Europeans signified a new era.
