Which of these would have been a pull factor of Americans in the mid-1800

There are many reasons why people are pushed permanently out of an area where they live. Other opportunities, often related to economic in nature, draw people to immigrate to a new country.  Students will work in teams and discuss why people may have migrated to a new home in the past, and compare it to immigration of today.

Explanation: Push and Pull Factors: Why people came to America.

In the mid-1800’s, a large number of immigrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean to begin a new life in America from Europe. More than 3 million of these immigrants arrived from Ireland and Germany. Many of them were fleeing economic or political troubles in their native countries.

Most immigrants arriving between the years of 1840 and 1860 were Irish. At that time, a disease called potato blight caused potatoes to rot. Consequently, many families in Ireland were left with little to no food. More than a million Irish died of starvation and disease. Those that had some money in savings often fled to the United States. Most Irish immigrants were poor. Cities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania received the majority of these immigrants. The Irish generally lacked job skills outside of agriculture; which resulted in them being hired as laborers to build canals and railroads. Irish women often worked as domestic servants for wealthy families; laboring 16 or more hours per day. In 1849, a Boston health committee reported that low wages forced most Irish immigrants to live in poor undesired housing. Still, many immigrants enjoyed their new feeling of equality.

The Irish weren't the only migrants coming to the United States at this time.  Many Germans were also arriving. In 1848, some Germans had staged a revolution against harsh rule. Educated Germans fled to the United States to escape persecution from their political activities. Most German immigrants came for economic reasons. The United States seemed to offer greater economic opportunity and freedom from government regulation. While most Irish immigrants were Catholics, German immigrant groups included Catholics, Jews, and Protestants. German immigrants were more likely to become farmers and live in rural areas. A majority of Germans moved to Midwestern states where land was available. Unlike the Irish, a high percentage of German immigrants arrived to the United States with money for investment in industry.  

During this time period, technology was developing rapidly. The Industrial Revolution had begun. Larger faster steamships brought people to America by the thousands. Railroads grew and expanded. People could travel quickly and efficiently. Factories were built to produce many new products only recently invented.

With the rise of American industry, growth of the railroad system created thousands of jobs both in factories and in the construction trade.

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