19th Century Emigration to the North Americas
Passenger Acts
Inside the hold of the Great Eastern. As well as carrying emigrants, the Great Eastern was charged with laying telegraph cable after the first trans-Atlantic cable, laid by the Niagara, snapped. It failed in its first attempt but managed, against all the odds, to locate the broken cable, splice it together and successfully establish a telegraphic link-up between America and Europe. The illustration shows the cable, which originally filled the entire hold, being played out.
American and Canadian federal and state governments subsidised land grants and farms, offered free or reduced cost passages, and published guides and information leaflets on the advantages of emigration.
In 1819 the British government passed the first act of parliament to regulate passenger traffic. It set out the minimum provisions to be provided by the shipping company to each passenger and the amount of space, ventilation and sanitary arrangements required for each statutory adult (two children under fourteen equalled one statutory adult). Although this law did not go far enough to ensure passenger safety, it was a step in the right direction and constantly improved upon and updated over the years.
By 1851, the year of greatest emigration from Ireland to America, minimum provisions of food and hygiene were much higher than thirty years earlier. New regulations also required each passenger to undergo a medical examination before being allowed on board and to prove they had the minimum amount of clothing as laid down in the regulations.
Outfits
The Emigrant's manual laid down the requirements for going abroad:
"The emigrants must bring their own clothing which will be inspected at the port by an officer of the commissioner's; and all parties are particularly desired to observe, that they will not be allowed to embark unless they provide themselves with a sufficient supply for the voyage. The lowest quantity that can be admitted for each person is as follows: For males: six shirts, six pairs stockings, two pairs shoes, two complete suits of exterior clothing. For females: six shifts, two flannel petticoats, six pairs stockings, two pairs shoes, two gowns. They must also bring their own sheets and towels, and a supply of soap."
"The emigrants must bring their own clothing which will be inspected at the port by an officer of the commissioner's; and all parties are particularly desired to observe, that they will not be allowed to embark unless they provide themselves with a sufficient supply for the voyage. The lowest quantity that can be admitted for each person is as follows: For males: six shirts, six pairs stockings, two pairs shoes, two complete suits of exterior clothing. For females: six shifts, two flannel petticoats, six pairs stockings, two pairs shoes, two gowns. They must also bring their own sheets and towels, and a supply of soap."
