Over 1.5 million Irish immigrants migrated to New York City during the 1840s to escape the Irish Potato Famine, many arriving on overcrowded "coffin ships" and with high death rates along the journey. They comprised the largest group of immigrants in New York next to Dublin. Most Irish settlers suffered greatly from disease, famine, lack of work and living conditions in the crowded Five Points neighborhood, where they also clashed over jobs and housing with existing black residents. Newspapers like the New York Herald became important sources of information for citizens, reporting on crime, fires and other daily events. The opening of the Erie Canal transformed New York into an economic hub, diverting trade from the Midwest and fueling the city's

1. American Urbanization & New YorkAssignment #3

2. Episode 2 “order and disorder”Irish migration1.5 million migrated to N.Y. during the Irish Famine in the 1840’s. Came in “coffin ships”, passage taking 30days, many died en-route.More Irish subsided in NY than any other city in the world next to Dublin.Considered “blacks of the 19th century”.Most had little to no urban skills, barely spoke English and were rural peoples.Irish immigrants suffered more than any other migrants, disease, famine, lack of work, living conditions.Settled in 5pts due to sheer numbers and poverty of migrants.Clashed with black neighbors of 5 points, fought over jobs, food, housing.Irish took on the worst and toughest jobs in the city.“Know-nothing” party arose, discriminating against the Catholic religion of the Irish immigrants, continuously seen as a whole other race.Anti-Catholic resentment arose.

3. Episode 2 “order and disorder”NewspapersNewspapers seen as a map of N.Y. to all citizens.Best indications of what was happening, representing the current events. Papers called “dailies, or penny papers” arose depicting stories and life of citizens in N.Y.NY Herald most popular newspaper in the nation, developed by James Gordon Bennett.Reports were born, scoured city for tales of murder, fire, suicides and accidents.Printing house road, near City Hall was established, becoming the information center of the nation.

4. Episode 2 “order and disorder”Erie canalConnected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River and beyond.Transformed N.Y. into a wealth funnel, diverting all Midwest capital through its streets.Manhattan developed the first district in the world devoted to commerce.Construction and growth exploded with the Erie Canal’s opening.N.Y. effectively became the largest industrial city in the US by the time of the Civil War.