AP+Irish+immigration+to+America


 * Irish Immigration to America **

Audience - Samantha Schuster

During the 1800’s, Ireland experienced many difficulties that led the Irish to seek opportunities in America. America appealed to all Irish who were living in poverty and starving because they were not able to provide for themselves. They made so little that it, “was only a fifth of what could be obtained in the United States and those without land began to seriously consider emigrating to the New World” (“Irish…”). Like many other immigrants, the Irish sought to travel and buy cheap land to start up agriculture. However, this movement also differed from many others during the time period because it appealed to a wider range of people. In fact, “ Unlike other national groups, many women of Ireland came by themselves to live here” (“Facts…”). This was because the famine itself destroyed all means of making a living. Women especially were able to have the opportunity to better themselves for the future. The American economy was prospering, so they too could buy into the successful market if and when they had the funds to (“Facts…”).

Works Cited

"Facts About Irish Immigration." //University of Delaware//. Web. 28 Mar 2012.

"Irish Immigration." //Spartacus Educational//. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.



Historical By: Brandon Prost

In the 18th and 19th centuries many europeans came over to America for the poor economy of their home lands they wanted to leave behind, for the growing and opportunistic lands of America. With the Industrial Revolution coming into play and the growing power of America, and their welcoming of those from other lands it was a prime spot for immigration. The Irish immigration to America was the mass migration of Irish to America in the numbers of approximately "5 million Irish immigrants" (Kenny). Which was just a fraction of the 34 million Europeans that came over in the 18th century for the reducing farmlands of Europe that were making it hard on families. (Baba) The same reason the Irish started coming over, which was for the opportunity to start a new life with a good living, and job, due to Irelands detereorating farm lands and economy. As majority of the farm workers were having a hard time with their prime crop being potatoes being destroyed and creating a famine, they decided to move to America for its opportunities that existed. From this mass immigration to America cause problems for the Immigrants as they had to assimilate into their new surrounds and the "nativist" to America. Which was a rough process as many American nativist, " denounced the Irish for their social behavior, their impact on the economy, and their Catholic religion" (Kenny). Despite the native hostility they Irish experienced a little bit of racism, but were not denied citizenship or the ability to enter the country. With their background wiliness to work and make a living they pushed forward to make a difference in the communities.

Works Citied Baba, Mary. "Irish Immigrant Families in Mid-Late 19th Century America." //Yale Education//. Yale, n.d. Web. 28 Mar 2012.

Kenny, Kevin. "Irish Immigrants in the United States."//American Gov//. American Gov, 13 Feb 2008. Web. 28 Mar 2012.

Irish Immigration to America- Cultural Luke Stangl In the mid-1800s, Irish immigrants made up almost one-half of all immigrants to the United States. Even though there were so many Irish immigrants, they still faced adversity and discrimination. The group of “5 million Irish immigrants” who immigrated to the United States because of “repeated massive failures of the potato crop,” known as the potato famine, “provoked a strong reaction among certain native-born Americans, known as nativists, who denounced the Irish for their social behavior, their impact on the economy, and their Catholic religion” (Kenny). The American “nativists” discriminated against the Irish because of the negative “impact” they had on American society. The Irish were trying to find a new home because their “potato crops” were “failing,” but they were “denounced” by some Americans. The Irish were forced to live “in the poorest of ghettoes in Eastern cities” (“Facts”). There were a few Irish immigrants who spoke English, but most “spoke only their native Gaelic” (“Facts”). Those who only spoke “their native Gaelic” had a hard time finding employment. This added to their already large social and economic burden. Living in “the poorest of ghettoes” and being unemployed led to a hard life for most Irish immigrants. Irish immigrants trying to escape hardship in their native country were only faced with more hardship and discrimination.

Works Cited "Facts About Irish Immigration." //University of Delaware//. Web. 27 Mar 2012.

Kenny, K.. "Irish Immigration in the United States." //www.america.gov//. US Government, 2008. Web. 27 Mar 2012.

(Irish family evicted from their home during the famine)

Irish Immigration: Aim Sara Beaulieu

Irish immigration to America was at its highest in the nineteenth century. “ Between 1846 and 1900 approximately 2, 873,000 Irish came to America” (//Facts About Irish Immigration).// This was at the time of the Great Irish Famine, which produced unbearable conditions in Ireland. For example, “…a serious blight began among the Irish potatoes, ruining about three-quarters of the country's crop” (//Irish Immigration)//. The whole country of Ireland was forced to survive off of one-quarter of the crops they were accustomed to. This shortage of potatoes, resulted in deaths due to starvation as well as the destruction of the Irish economy. Disease in the form of Typhus arrived and didi even more damage to Ireland and the Irish people. These extremely poor conditions in Ireland led to the mass exodus and immigration to America. Going to America was an opportunity for survival and hope of a new life.

Works Cited "Facts About Irish Immigration." //University of Delaware//. Web. 28 Mar 2012.

"Irish Immigration." //Spartacus Educational//. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.