Ari Pregen on Immigration and Nativism in the Mid 19th Century. http://aripregenlaw.blogspot.com/2014/09/aripregen.html

1. Immigration and Nativism
In the Mid 19th
Century

2. Nativism
• Because of immigration, a feeling of
Nativism developed.
• Nativism is a belief that American should
be for “True Americans”.
• Generally the definition of a “True
American” was a white Anglo-Saxon
Protestant.

3. Nativism
• Prejudice was often directed toward the
Irish and Catholic.
• Prejudice varied in different Nativism
groups.

4. Nativism
• The first of these groups were secret
fraternal societies
• The Order of United Mechanics
• The Order of the Sons of America
• The United Daughters of America
• The Order of United Americans

5. Nativism
• Some Protestant organizations instated
Anti-Catholic programs.
• In the west however, the focus was mainly
on anti immigration, and many non-
WASP’s were among their ranks.

6. Nativism
• Some of these groups took a political
stance.
• One of those groups was The Order of the
Star Spangled Banner. They were also
known as the “Know Nothing Party”
because of intense secrecy.
• This party was successful with many
congressional and Gubernatorial victories.

7. “The Know Nothings”
• The party incorporated the Whigs and
became the “American Party”. Millard
Fillmore, a member of the Order of the Star
Spangled Banner, ran under the American
Party for President.
• The American Party helped form the
Republican Party. The parties stance
changed towards abolition.

8. Immigration
• Nativism would not have come into
existence without immigration
• Immigration to America was very popular.
• In 1845, over 100,000 immigrants arrived in
America.

9. Immigration in the 1800’s
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
1820
1830
1840

10. Immigration - Voyage
• The trip to America was difficult. It took
up to three months, and the ship conditions
were terrible.
• There often wasn’t enough food or water.
The conditions in steerage were cramped,
airless, and unsanitary. Disease was
everywhere.

11. Illness on the Ships
Sick
Dead
Born
In 1849, a ships passenger list had 475 sick, 658 dead, and
76 born. A ratio of 60 percent illness was not uncommon.

12. Immigration - Causes
• During the 19th century, the population of
Europe was growing quickly, and the crops
were often doing badly.
• The peasant workers moved into the cities
to work. There weren’t many factory jobs
available. They were destined to lead a
terrible life unless they could escape.

13. Immigration
• America was in much better shape than
Europe.
• We had an expanding economy with lots of
job available with good wages.
• Free land was even given out to immigrants.
All they had to do was develop it.

14. Immigration - From Germany
• Germans immigrated to America because
of:
• political unrest
• crop failures
• mortgage foreclosures
• poor trade prospects
• At first, Americans didn’t like German culture.
In time, Germans were seen as model citizens.

15. Immigration - Ireland
• The Irish immigrated to American because
of:
• the potato famine of 1845-47
• economic restrictions
• religious restrictions
• At first, the Irish had a hard time advancing in
the work place. They took the most menial and
dangerous jobs for the lowest wages. In time,
the began getting involved in city politics.

16. Immigration
• Immigration continued to flourish in
America.
• A large number of immigrants moved here
between 1890 and 1930.

17. Thanks