A CHANGING CULTURE
Chapter 6 Section 2
New Wave of Immigrants
Between 1815-1860, over 5 million immigrants arrived in U.S.
Many from Ireland who were fleeing famine
Germans & Irish Arrive
Largest wave of immigrants come from Ireland
Famine hits in 1845 Most settled in industrialized cities in NE
Germans second largest group Settled in Midwest Fleeing violence; by 1860 over 1.5 mil
arrived
Nativism
New immigrants brought hostilities Produced feelings of nativism, or
hostility toward foreigners Most Irish and Germans were Catholic Nativist groups like American Party
formed Membership secret, became known as
Know-Nothings
2nd Great Awakening
Movement began in Kentucky, spread thru nation
Revived people’s commitment to religion Basic message = re-admit God and
Christ into daily lives Also rejected Calvinist idea that only a
few predestined for salvation Charles Grandison Finney prominent
minister
Unitarians & Universalists Unitarians – reject idea that Jesus son
of God, believed he was only great teacher
Universalists – believe in universal salvation of souls; reject idea of hell
Believe God intends to save all
Mormons
Mormons – followers of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Founded by Joseph Smith
Smith murdered, Brigham Young leader
Moves group to Utah Territory
Cultural Renaissance
2nd Great Awakening influences writers, philosophers
Romanticism – advocated feeling over reason
Emerging American writers