<P> Between 1841 and 1850 , immigration nearly tripled again , totaling 1,713,000 immigrants , including at least 781,000 Irish , 435,000 Germans , 267,000 British , and 77,000 French . The Irish , driven by the Potato Famine ( 1845 -- 1849 ) , emigrated directly from their homeland to escape poverty and death . The failed revolutions of 1848 brought many intellectuals and activists to exile in the U.S. Bad times and poor conditions in Europe drove people out , while land , relatives , freedom , opportunity , and jobs in the US lured them in . </P>
<P> Between 1841 and 1850 , immigration nearly tripled again , totaling 1,713,000 immigrants , including at least 781,000 Irish , 435,000 Germans , 267,000 British , and 77,000 French . The Irish , driven by the Potato Famine ( 1845 -- 1849 ) , emigrated directly from their homeland to escape poverty and death . The failed revolutions of 1848 brought many intellectuals and activists to exile in the U.S. Bad times and poor conditions in Europe drove people out , while land , relatives , freedom , opportunity , and jobs in the US lured them in . </P>
where did most immigrants in the 1840s come from
where did most immigrants in the 1840s come from
The Irish
The Irish