At Home: 1890: Side by Side

Side by Side--Natives 33

White persons born in the U.S. were considered natives--4,433,277 resided in Illinois in 1910.
Of these, 1,723,847 (or 39%) had foreign-born parents.
If parents were foreign born, they were likely to be German, Irish, Austrian, or Swedish. People of these ethnic groups were considered "old" immigrants because many started coming to the U.S. in the 1800s. These second-generation immigrants were likely to achieve economic success because they were skilled workers and were assimilated into American society.
Natives were the highest percentage of the population in rural counties.
Natives welcomed newcomers to fill service and industrial jobs that were unappealing to natives. Many natives considered the newcomers inferior and potentially disloyal.
Natives blamed the ills and conflicts of cities and rapid industrialization on the newcomers. Labor violence, corrupt political machines, saloons, and falling wages created uneasiness about the stability of American society and the American standard of living.
Many natives had achieved comfortable lifestyles. They lived in attractive two-story houses in well-maintained neighborhoods. They sent their children to school and dreamt of an even better future for them. Women ran the household and set a cultural and moral tone for the family. Many families hired domestic help, often newcomers.