The Economic Impact on Poor Immigrants from England to America - Research Paper Example

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON POOR IMMIGRANTS FROM ENGLAND TO AMERICA (1815-1848) Course Instructor Institution City/State Date Outline i. Introduction a) How the end of French wars instigated migration b) Bible view of immigration c) The purpose of the research paper ii. Discussion A. Industrialization and Market Economies a) British immigration to the New World b) Causes of the immigration B. New World Attraction a) Why people from Europe moved to the New World b) Different types of immigrants C. Immigration to America a) Adequate land and availability of Jobs in US attracted immigrants D. British Economic Advance a) Failed economy b) Industrial revolution c) Increase in urban population E. Limited Opportunities a) Shortage of land and jobs b) Persecution c) Increase in ethic ghettos iii. Conclusion a) Summary of why people from England moved to the New World The Economic Impact on Poor Immigrants from England to America (1815-1848) Introduction After the end of French Wars in 1815 the immediate effect was economic distress, wherein European markets and industries contracted. Therefore, the newly returned sailors as well as soldiers were jobless and for those who were working were paid poorly. This resulted in increasing political rights’ demands through the growing number of Hampden Clubs. With the ending of the American as well as Napoleonic wars both Americans and British entered a new era, which was marked by heavy immigration from England, expansion of commerce and agriculture as well as political discord.1 Political discord was attributed mainly to the growing reform movements that opposed the imbedded colonial elites. According to Canadian Heritage Gallery, economic advance, British settlement, as well as the clash of Tory and Reform elements were distinctly interconnected. 2 Even the bible acknowledges immigration; for instance, Exodus (22:21) claim that no one should wrong a sojourner (immigrant) or oppress him, because everyone is a sojourner in the land they claim is theirs.3 In this paper, the economic impact on poor families moving from England to the New World in comparison to those who stayed in England between 1815 and 1848 is analysed. Besides that, the opportunities gained by these immigrants and how immigration to America might have limited their opportunities or had negative impacts on their futures are examined. Discussion Industrialization and Market Economies The immigration process of British from England to the New World was closely related to social and economic changes in England that took place in the 19th century.4 The enclosure process in England seized open land from poor-tenant farmers, with the intention of creating pasture land to raise sheep, inspired by the growth of lucrative wool trade. Even though this movement started during the late middle Ages, it increased during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Evicted farmers were occasionally compensated with pieces of land that were less desirable, and so some migrated to rural areas or cities to look for jobs while other migrated to the new world in search of a new life. This coupled with political upheaval and wars, led to the growth of a group of poor land owners and landless people with no wage labor.5 The industrial revolution that begun late in the 1700s to around 1840s drew a lot of people from the countryside to mines, mills, and factories, and this process directly impacted western Europe more than other parts of Europe. Industrialization drew a lot of peasants from the rural villages into cities; however, the new industrial jobs offered by this change in economy failed to rival the growing size of the rural population, and majority of them had been displaced from their lands. All through the 19th century rural populations increased tremendously due to the end of major wars, new crops introduction like the potato, as well as enhanced sanitary and health conditions.6 This resulted in more pressure on land ownership for people in the rural areas, and this was aggravated in different parts of England through the inheritance patterns wherein land was evenly divided amongst peasants’ heirs. In eastern and central Europe, the peasants’ immigration was limited all through the 17th century through quasi-feudal laws the peasants were bound to the land. However, all through the 19th century, such laws slowly disappeared in an attempt to revolutionize agriculture. In consequence, the peasants were emancipated with the intention of converting labor duties into cash rents, which was similar to the England’s enclosure movement that restricted peasant from accessing woodlands, pastures, or other resources that were previously utilized in common. This led to a sudden need for a job within the village economies where the money had never been used. In consequence, the peasants were impelled to migrate in the hunt for work, and in so doing, they became able to pay their rents and got the chance to improve their families’ economic status. In England, families that lived near the industrial areas were attracted to such regions while the poor families were living in areas that were more remote, preferred traveling overseas, particularly to the United States. This according to Immigration in America was attributed to improve transportation technology particularly steamships and railroads as well as the clear-sighted economic strategy.7 Eventually, the travel speed increased, and its costs contracted, not just in the tickets price but as well in the time and other costs. In consequence, the New World became an attractive destination for the poor families living in England and the rest of Europe. Accordingly, since the jobs in America were highly remunerated the benefits of poor families traveling from England to America grew tremendously. New World Attraction The abundance of resources in North America coupled with its relatively less densely concentrated and smaller population started drawing immigrants from different parts of Europe.8 During and after the American Revolution, the average American had a better lifestyle and more personal freedom as compared to their Europe counterparts, even better-off than England and the rest of Western Europe. According to Bankston (2010), there are three key types of immigrants who moved to America; first, the settler immigrants who migrated with the purpose of permanently settling in the New World, and so they moved with their extended and immediate family members.9 This pattern was repeatedly associated with immigrants that moved to America purposely to take up farms.10 So, going with their family members was valuable since they offered the needed labor source for the farms. Another type of immigrants was the labor seekers who moved to America in search of jobs that paid well. Evidently, labor-seeking immigrants moved to America for certain periods of time and then went back to England. However, poor families from England did not make the large part of Europe’s immigrants searching for labor during the 19th century since majority came from Southern and Eastern Europe. 11 The last type of immigrants was the refugees or individuals escaping political or religious persecution. Immigration to America Immigration to America increased tremendously after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the advancement of the American economy, and the US western expansion. The majority of immigrants who arrived in America before the Civil War constituted mainly of English, Germans, and Irish. Most of the Irish immigrants moved to the United States during the 1840’s as well as early 1850’s, mainly due to the Great Irish Famine, tyrannical Ireland land policies put forth by the English and by and large unbearable economic conditions.12 England immigration dominated arrivals between 1814 and 1850, and most English moved to the United States as settler immigrants and other in search of jobs. The majority of the English immigrants were desperately poor, familiarly the poorest in England, and had been evicted from their lands. During their immigration, a substantial percentage died due to the cholera outbreak and hunger. British Economic Advance In 1815, the obstacles to large-scale overseas immigration were lifted by the British population that was fast multiplying, which ensued after long years of battle. In this case, the transatlantic passages turned out to be more accessible, and their costs declined tremendously since the ocean shipping was surplus, and the high rates of wartime insurance had vanished. Simultaneously, the momenta to move away from England rose powerfully. As observed by Canadian Heritage Gallery, there the post-war despair was wide as the economy of England experienced drastic changes, while the majority of the soldiers from the wars were tossed into the labor market.13 Besides that, the depression was exacerbated by the effects of Industrial Revolution that England was experiencing. According to Canadian Heritage Gallery, the industrialism of iron machinery as well as steam had aided to defeat the Napoleon; however, it negatively impacted the traditional English cottage handcrafts, interrupted the entire communities and districts, and created ill-built, congested factory settlements that were full of diseases and misery. Besides, uncontrolled industrial capitalism nurtured chaotic boom-and-bust cycles, of flush times trailed by depressing years that dethroned farmer and merchant alike, and led to poverty, unemployment, as well as adversity amongst both traditional rural laborers as well as new-style factory workers. These are some of the compelling drives that forced people to leave England for New World. The majority of them were attracted by the demands for workers as well as available lands for farming; by prospects of security, farms and new jobs or by availability of new opportunities and a bright future, particularly for their families.14 These draws and drives are classic in emigrations history, and in the Great Britain movement, almost half a million people moved across to North America between 1815 and 1855. However, the outflow finally diminished after England became more economic secure and successful. America benefited from British immigrants since the English brought with them more than the increase in population; they came with their own political and social inheritances as well as a powerful economic stimulus. They immigrants significantly enlarged the British America labor supply, and they added fresh skills, capital as well as the enterprise; in addition to much long-drawn-out production and demand in all colonies. In Canada, the British immigrants engaged in timber trade so as to serve their larger as well as more lasting needs of industrialism. In this case, they started making beams and heavy boards for urban and factory building, shaft-timbers crucial for coal mines, as well as ties for new steam locomotive railways that had been developed initially in Britain in the 1820s.15 Besides that, the wheat trade rose benefited the Britain's industrial population strongly and was successfully offered imperial tariff protection in 1822. Limited Opportunities In the 19th century, people from different parts of the world, especially Europe moved to the United States, and this limited the opportunities such employment for the locals and England immigrants. Majority of immigrants to America were fleeing from job and land shortages, crop failure, famine, and rising taxes with majority moving to U. S. because it was seen by many as a land full of economic opportunities.16 Another group of immigrants moved to America in search of personal freedom or help from religious as well as political persecution. Even though some immigrants settled close to the ports of entry, the majority of moved to the inland. The majority of states, particularly those with sparse populations, enthusiastically tried to attract immigrants by offering land to farm or jobs. Scores of immigrants desired to move to communities created by the earlier settlers from their motherlands. The new immigrants in the cities gathered in ethnic ghettos so as to maintain their customs, eat their traditional food, and speak their own language. This made some Americans uneasy, especially those who did not want the new immigrants to be assimilated into the American society; therefore, a new nativism developed. The earlier immigrants to American before the famous America Revolution came from the British Isles. Even though majority of such early immigrants searched for new homes wherein they could nurture communities with their religious beliefs devoid of hindrance from the government, they as well searched for ownership of land with no overlords something that was difficult to realize in their homeland. A number of immigrants moved to the New World with the hope of becoming big landlords and making bigger profits form growing crops that were not available in England like tobacco. This was mainly attributed to the fact that the soil and climate of colonies like Virginia were very suitable.17 Towards mid-19th century a new economic motive aided in steering immigration opportunities to flourish through international trade wherein the American colonies had started to take part in. However, immigration limited opportunities not just for the locals but also for other immigrants in terms of employment, education, land ownership, among other factors. The majority of Americans held the view that immigration was directly harming the public welfare and that most European immigrants were less educated and so could not contribute anything to the American society.18 However, it is imperative to consider the bible teachings, particularly Leviticus (19:33-34) which states that “when a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong,”19 Conclusion In conclusion, it has been argued that the immigration process of British from England to the New World was attributed mainly to both social and economic changes that occurred in the 19th century. All through its history, the United States’ average wage had at all times been higher as compared in England; so, this attracted many poor families from rural England. Furthermore, because of westward expansion as well as Indian removal policies during the 19th century, the United States provided a wealth of land for farming and grazing that was both highly productive and relatively inexpensive. Bibliography Bankston, Carl Leon. Encyclopedia of American Immigration: Abolitionist movement. Ipswich, Massachusetts: Salem Press, 2010. Bergquist, James M. Daily Life in Immigrant America, 1820-1870. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008. Canadian Heritage Gallery. "Immigration, Colonial Growth and Strife: 1815-1841." Canadian Heritage Gallery, February 1, 2001. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://www.canadianheritage.org/books/canada6.htm. Duignan, Peter J. "Making and Remaking America: Immigration into the United States." Hoover Institution. September 15, 2003. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://www.hoover.org/research/making-and-remaking-america-immigration-united-states. Glynn, Irial. "Emigration Across the Atlantic: Irish, Italians and Swedes compared, 1800–1950." European History Online. June 6, 2011. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/europe-on-the-road/economic-migration/irial-glynn-emigration-across-the-atlantic-irish-italians-and-swedes-compared-1800-1950. Howe, Daniel Walker. What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2007. Immigration in America. ”European immigrants." Immigration in America. November 14, 2011. Accessed July 7, 2015. http://immigrationinamerica.org/486-european-immigrants.html. Kohlenberger, John R. The Contemporary Parallel Bible: New King James Version, New International Version. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Song, Jeeun. "CAUSES and CONDITIONS of IMPOVERISHMENT and DESTITUTION IN 19TH C BRITAIN." WHKMLA. November 2008. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://www.zum.de/whkmla/sp/1011/pope/sje1.html. The Library of Congress. "Immigration to the United States, 1851-1900." The Library of Congress. February 1, 2001. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/riseind/immgnts/. Turner, Laura Leddy. "Challenges Faced by Immigrants in the 19th Century." The Classroom. October 22, 2013. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://classroom.synonym.com/challenges-faced-immigrants-19th-century-9525.html. Read More