Potato Famine DBQ

From 1815-1850 the United States became more diverse. Many of the immigrants came from Germany and Ireland. Immigrants came to the United States for freedom, abundant land, and economic opportunities and because of the Potato Famine. The Potato Famine was where the crops, mostly potatoes, started to fail. They were contaminated with a disease that destroyed the roots, and leaves of the potato. The Cherokee nation became more spread out and enjoyed the United States because of the whites society. By the 1800s the Cherokees adopted to many of the white’s society’s. Although, neither of these groups constantly had the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness to everyone. This led to unfair treatment of the immigrants and the Cherokee. The Cherokees were forced to leave their

land and move west and the Irish were having a hard time finding jobs, and being accepted for their religion.

America did not insure the rights they had promised in the United States Constitution from 1815 to 1850.

The Cherokees were no exception to the guaranteed right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As the United States became hungrier and hungrier for land, they decided to take over the occupied land of the Native American. In document two it says “the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands.” In other words, this is saying that the Cherokee had no choice but to give up there land. Also in document two the picture shows many people walking west. The people look ill, tired, hungry and very unhappy. The picture also shows a variety of ages from newborns to the old. The Cherokee had all their belongings and are carrying them till they reach the new destination. The trail they are on is known as the “Trail of Tears.” The reason it is known for the “Trail of Tears” is because of the tragic effects it had on these people. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 died. Lastly, in document two the picture has United States soldiers holding guns. This is showing that violence was used to force the Cherokee out of their homes and on

to a long voyage on the “Trail of Tears.” In document one it says “Our country being already filled with troops, fills our minds with anger and surprise. What have we done to deserve such treatment? What is our Crime? Have we Invaded anyone’s rights? Have we violated any of our many treaties? Have we acted in bad faith? We have done no such thing…” This is suggesting that the Cherokees have no idea why they are being forced to leave though they have not done anything wrong. Both these sources help support my thesis by showing that the Cherokee were not happy with the decision of them having to migrate West and they believed there was no reason for it. It also shows that the Cherokee did not have liberty, they didn’t have the ability choose where they would want to live. Unstead they were forced to pack all there things and move west. They had to follow the enforcement to move from the soldiers or they would be threatened to be killed. The Native Americans were not respected at all from 1815-1850.

The immigrants also had problems with the guaranteed right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. After the the long journey to America it did not get easier for them. Many nativists from the United States neglected the immigrants for many reasons. One huge factor was religion. The Nativists were Protestants and the immigrants were Catholics. These two religious groups never got along, this caused many small fights but it all led to a humongous riot in 1844. According to document 4 “On July 7,1844 rioting broke out again between Protestant native born Americans and Catholic immigrants, most of whom were Irish. The state militia had to be called in to stop the violence.” In other words this is saying that the Protestants did not respect the immigrants for their religion. Also in document 4 you the picture allows you to see many natives with weapons, smoke coming from the buildings, militia in the back,tons of people dead. This is showing that the nativists didn’t really trust the immigrants and how the immigrants were treated unequally. In document 3 it says “Protection of American Mechanics Against Foreign Pauper Labor.” In other words this means the immigrants jobs were limited. Many store and factories owners would take advantage of the job want for immigrants. The owners would offer the immigrants a job but only pay them half as much and have them work overtime. The immigrants were so desperate for a job that they would take up this offer. Though other nativists would put up signs that would offer jobs but they would say no immigrants need to apply. This was usually because of the immigrants were Catholic. This fits my thesis that from 1815-1850 America failed to provide the guaranteed right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness to everyone because the immigrants did not have a free chance of trying to get a job and if they did they would be payed less and sometimes worked more. Immigrants did not have the promised rights form the Declaration of Independence from 1815-1850.

The United States did not fulfill the ideals of the Declaration of Independence for all people by 1850 because the Cherokees and the Irish did not have equal political and economical rights.