Immigration
1841 to 1860 4,311,465 people from around the world left their countries and immigrated to the United States. A huge factor for this mass immigration was caused by a magnitude of advertisements. Posters and billboards were sent to neighboring countries with promises such as: “The land of opportunity” and “Land of a second chance”. Many came to America hoping for a fresh start.
This caused jobs to become scarce in the United States. Price for labor became cheap and the average income was not enough for a person to live. Families fell apart; they had no one to rely on and couldn't support themselves. Tenements were overcrowded, housing ten or more to a single room. Many of the poor were living in shacks or forced into refuge on the sides of streets. Children had jobs as young as six to help support their family. Job safety was an issue; many men were killed in their workplaces. Leaving many women and children to fend for themselves, with little money. |
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