Ireland had always faced the problem of lacking substantial natural resources. In addition oppressive British rule had restricted trade and taken lands from the Irish people. The nation was reduced to an impoverished state. Its farmers became dependent on a single crop, the potato. When the potato crop failed the people starved and died by the thousands. Between 1846 and 1847 an extreme famine beset the country and was the single greatest motivator for Irish immigration to America. Within a seven year span close to 2 million Irish immigrated to America, Canada and Great Britain due to the Potato Famine. Because of their Catholic background the Irish had few options other than America. In addition to the severe poverty many Irish people were fleeing the oppressive British rule and were in effect seeking political asylum. Because the Irish were recovering from extreme poverty they were willing to work for very low wages. This competition for employment was unacceptable to most established work forces in Europe. America on the other hand offered more job opportunities, less competition and cheap land to the aspiring farmer.
Once in America many of the Irish immigrants stayed in the east in and around the major cities. Initially they were discriminated against. Some Americans feared the Roman Catholic faith and the influence of the papist on American politics. Others were openly racist and saw the Irish as lesser beings. After the Civil War the Irish became more socially acceptable as new immigrant groups like the Italians and Jews made their way into the country.
The Irish worked in factories and coal and metal mining operations during the industrial revolution. In general the Irish tended to comprise the unskilled day laborer work force within the cities. Some moved to the Midwest to establish farms. Towards the end of the 19th century they came to dominate municipal politics and many of the became police officers and civil servants.
Once in America many of the Irish immigrants stayed in the east in and around the major cities. Initially they were discriminated against. Some Americans feared the Roman Catholic faith and the influence of the papist on American politics. Others were openly racist and saw the Irish as lesser beings. After the Civil War the Irish became more socially acceptable as new immigrant groups like the Italians and Jews made their way into the country.
The Irish worked in factories and coal and metal mining operations during the industrial revolution. In general the Irish tended to comprise the unskilled day laborer work force within the cities. Some moved to the Midwest to establish farms. Towards the end of the 19th century they came to dominate municipal politics and many of the became police officers and civil servants.
A Century Later
A hundred years later the ancestors of Irish Immigrants have spread across the nation and are heavily concentrated in the South and Midwest.