<P> Nativism took the form of political anti-Catholicism directed mostly at the Irish (as well as Germans). It became important briefly in the mid-1850s in the guise of the Know Nothing party . Most of the Catholics and German Lutherans became Democrats, and most of the other Protestants joined the new Republican Party . During the Civil War, ethnic communities supported the war and produced large numbers of soldiers on both sides . Riots broke out in New York City and other Irish and German strongholds in 1863 when a draft was instituted, particularly in light of the provision exempting those who could afford payment . </P> <P> Based on available records, immigration totaled 8,385 in 1820, with immigration totals gradually increasing to 23,322 by the year 1830; for the 1820s decade immigration more than doubled to 143,000 . Between 1831 and 1840, immigration more than quadrupled to a total of 599,000 . These included about 207,000 Irish, starting to emigrate in large numbers following Britain's easing of travel restrictions, and about 152,000 Germans, 76,000 British, and 46,000 French, constituting the next largest immigrant groups of the decade . </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> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="5"> Population and Foreign Born 1790 to 1849 Census Population, Immigrants per Decade </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Census </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> Immigrants </Th> <Th> Foreign Born </Th> <Th>% </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1790 </Th> <Th> 3,918,000 </Th> <Th> 60,000 </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1800 </Th> <Th> 5,236,000 </Th> <Th> 60,000 </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1810 </Th> <Th> 7,036,000 </Th> <Th> 60,000 </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1820 </Th> <Th> 10,086,000 </Th> <Th> 60,000 </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1830 </Th> <Th> 12,785,000 </Th> <Th> 143,000 </Th> <Th> 200,000 </Th> <Th> 1.6% </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1840 </Th> <Th> 17,018,000 </Th> <Th> 599,000 </Th> <Th> 800,000 </Th> <Th> 4.7% </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1850 </Th> <Th> 23,054,000 </Th> <Th> 1,713,000 </Th> <Th> 2,244,000 </Th> <Th> 9.7% </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="5"> 1 . The total number immigrating in each decade from 1790 to 1820 are estimates . <P> 2 . The number of foreign born in 1830 and 1840 decades are extrapolations . </P> </Th> </Tr> </Table>

Where did most immigrants in the 1840s come from