Workers, Immigrants and African Americans in the North

Why did cities grow so quickly between 1820 and 1860?

• Cities have lots of fun things to do, good things to eat and interesting people to meet.

• People left farms for jobs, immigrants came to America for jobs and many new jobs were created in the cities.

• There is nothing to do, nowhere to go and no one to meet on a farm.

• The cities were crowded, there was many diseases and people were paid low wages for work.

Why might a worker in a factory not be proud of the items he or she created?

• They were not allowed to be creative. They just did the same thing day after day.

• They never got to see the finished product.

• They could not afford to buy the things they made.

• The work was easy and they made lots of money.

What are some ways factory jobs were dangerous and uncomfortable?

• There was air conditioning and a big lunchroom.

• People worked short hours for high pay.

• Factories were hot in summer, cold in winter. Accidents happened all the time and injured people could lose their jobs.

• You could take a break any time.

What is a trade union?

• A group of people who go to the same church who want to improve the church.

• A group of people from the same school who want to improve the school.

• A group of people from the same city who want to hang out.

• A group of people from the same trade (job), who want to improve their working conditions.

What were some work conditions that trade unions wanted to improve?

• They wanted longer work hours and lower pay.

• They wanted to work closer to dangerous machines.

• They wanted shorter workdays, higher pay and safer working conditions.

• They wanted to own the factory themselves.

What was one of the main ways that trade unions would use to try to improve things for workers.

• ask politely

• go on strike (refuse to work)

• Do a really good job at work.

• Go to work late.

Why were some people paid better than others?

• They had skills that other workers did not have.

• They asked for a raise.

• Everyone was paid the same.

• They were nice to the owner.

Why did so many Irish immigrants come to America?

• They could speak English.

• Ireland is covered in snow.

• They didn't have any skills.

• There was a famine (starvation) in Ireland, due to diseased potato crops which was the main thing poor people ate.

What was the name of the political party that wanted to keep Catholics and other immigrants out of the United States?

• Democratic Party

• Republican Party

• Whig Party

• Know-Nothing Party

As one writer pointed out, African Americans were denied “the ballot-box, the jury box, the halls of the legislature, the army, the public lands, the school, and the church.” This is called

• Equality

• Liberty

• Discrimination

• Fairness