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The Struggle Of Immigrants In The 1800's

Decent Essays

Immigration is a word used all over the world. For people who came to America, however, it had a slightly different meaning. Immigration for these individuals was redemption, a new hope from struggles they faced in their home countries. In the beginning of the 1800’s, the slave trade was coming to an end and America was expanding westward. The Trans-Continental Railroad was also in the making. Workers were needed to construct such a monstrosity and Industrialization was booming. Immigrants took advantage of such a great opportunity. Push factors such as the Irish Potato Famine and religious prosecution around the world forced immigrates to find a better location to call “home.” Pull factors like employment opportunities, better living conditions, …show more content…

Potatoes, a large part of Irish diet at the time, developed a fungus that made the crop inedible. Unfortunately, the fungus traveled to other crops, which resulted in the food supply becoming depleted. No food in an area obviously makes it difficult to live and thrive in that area.1.5 million people died in this famine and approximately the same amount emigrated on boat towards America. (Ellis Island-Immigration Timeline) Upon arrival, the Irish were overwhelmed with employment opportunity, after passing through Ellis Island of course. For the Irish especially, America was a saving grace. Something as simple as food, which modern American society often takes for granted, was such redemption. For a better perspective on the issue, in 1864 the Republican Issue made it very clear that, “Foreign immigration which in the past has added so much to the wealth, resources, and increase of power to the nation…should be fostered and encouraged." (Ellis Island 1820-1880) The federal government was making these statements even before the vast groups made their way over. They knew that immigration could only benefit the nation’s success as a …show more content…

In the late 1800’s and still today, America was considered a fairly new and young country. We did not have political experience, crisis management mastered or even organized streets, until Benjamin Franklin’s “checkerboard pattern” for Philadelphia. As compared to Germany or Ireland which consisted of Germans and Irish, respectively, America did not have “Americans” yet. Small towns along the Trans-Continental Railroad, settled by immigrant workers, were usually one ethnic group. To be clearer, at one station, a town may be settled by Irish, but the next towns may be settled by Germans and Chinese. A small part of every culture became known as American Culture. Our cultures “mixed” to form a new culture. Immigrants were an essential part of that. Without immigrants, we would most likely still have English accents and “tea time”. Immigrants were crucial to America’s success because it not only made us one but it created a diverse society that evolved into the great culture we share today. It is also very important to note that these immigrants coming from all different sections of the world brought not only culture, but trade experience they had mastered in their home countries. The ability to plant, grow, maintain and harvest crops was a great upset for America as well as blacksmith

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