ANTI-FOREIGNISM AND IMMIGRATION

POPULATION GROWTH

• In the mid 1800's, an influx of immigrants entered the U.S.
• Europe also experienced a significant growth in population , and it began to "run out of room,"causing many immigrants to flock to America
• Immigrants also came to America to escape the caste and state church
• Some sought an opportunity to improve their lives : "land of freedom and opportunity"
• The increased population and larger cities brought about disease and decreased living standards. impure water, foul sewage, improper garbage disposal, inadequate policing, feeble street lighting

GERMAN FORTY-EIGHTERS

• Many immigrants from Germany migrated to America due to crop failure and other hardships
• Were mainly political refugees and uprooted farmers
• Contributed to American life on social, political standards:
• The Christmas Tree, Kentucky Rifle and Conestoga Wagon are a few German designs that enriched American culture
• Were more educated than Americans, and opposed slavery
• Moved into the Middle West

"THE BLACK FORTIES"

• In 1840, due to famine in Ireland, many Irish migrated to America
• The majority were Roman-Catholic
• Added competition for jobs fuels hatred by Americans
• Ancient Order of Hibernians: semisecret society founded in Ireland to fight greedy landlords and aid the downtrodden helps bring about the Molly Miguires, an Irish miners union in the 1860's and 70's

ANTIFOREIGNISM

• Religious differences between European immigrants and American natives creates a sense of antiforeignism
• Roman Catholics, for instance, created a separate educational system in order to avoid the Protestant system
• Those in opposition of immigration called for political action, forming a group known as the "Know-Nothing Party"
• spurred conflict, such as riots and attacks, between the Americans and the immigrants