The Irish immigrants came to America in the mid-1800s seeking relief from the potato famine and economic hardship in Ireland, settling in large communities where they could maintain their culture and Catholic faith while filling much of the demand for manual labor jobs. However, the Irish faced significant discrimination and poverty upon arrival in America and worked to improve their rights through labor unions and political participation that allowed them to eventually assimilate into American society.

1. The Irish Immigrants who came to America
seeking everyone's dream of freedom

2.  For my project I chose to take a look at the
immigration of the Irish to America.
 I chose this project because not too long ago I
found that I have Irish in my blood. I was very
interested in learning about the Irish history,
and knew this project would help me learn
about their struggles.

3.  The Irish were a predominantly catholic people who
took their religion to heart.
 However, beliefs in leprechauns, fairies and other
mystical creatures was common. Pilgrimages to
holy wells of fairies was also something that was
common.
 In the mid 1800’s the church took over much of the
education system and condemned traditional
beliefs. Forcing many to begin attending church
mass.

4.  After the Irish rebellion of 1798 Ireland became part
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
 This was a major change for the Irish who would
now be under the control of the English crown.
 This meant that the officials in London would be
making decisions on the Irish economy, but yet had
little understanding of what the Irish population
needed.
 Soon Ireland was in turmoil and rebellion was on the
minds of many.

5.  Around the 1830’s Daniel O’connell tried to have the Act
of the Union repealed. He had Mp’s elected into the
British Parliament to try and establish the Irish
Parliament which would make Ireland free again.
However the idea was quickly rejected and forgotten.
 The Irish Republican Brotherhood, and the Young
Irelander’s both took to rebellion against the Act. They
took the streets displaying acts of violence against the
crown. However these rebellions were quickly crushed.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0zBlHlnR4Y. This is
an example of a popular song during the Irish rebellions.

6.  During the 19th century the rural population in
Ireland was on the rise.
 This rise is due to the number of children families
were having. Children were seen as a guarantee that
the family would be taken care of and would
continue on.
 However these large families had some problems.
Large families needed large amounts of food which
families heavily relied upon potato's.
Housing, water, clothing, all of these everyday
necessities were a challenge for these large families.

7.  The famine of 1845 was a major turning point in
Irish history. Many families relied on the potato
harvests for their food supply.
 The harvest of 1845 was expected to be a
prosperous year, but was not. The harvest
yielded a fifty percent loss which put more strain
on already suffering families.
 The hardships of the already strained economy
plus the famines pushed the Irish to seek a new
home.

8.  Big business in America is always looking for a way
to maximize profits, and soon found that cheap
human labor was the key.
 Businesses began advertising overseas depicting a
rich meaningful life that could be found in America.
Some companies would pay immigrants fares if
they promised to work for them once they arrived.
 However, the Foran Act of 1885 viewed this as a
type of bondage and made it illegal.

9.  However, it was still not illegal for companies to
advertise overseas which they took advantage of.
 Companies created a campaign depicting America
as a place where their wildest dreams could be
realized.
 These companies knew that once these immigrants
arrived they would be willing to work for less wages
because they came to America with very little.
 This low working wage did not sit well with other
Americans who were being undercut by these new
immigrants.

11.  Ellis Island was the first federal immigration station
in 1890. Due to the large numbers of immigrants the
islands size was increased from 3.3 acres to 275
acres.
 From 1892 to 1954 over twelve million immigrants
passed through this small port.
 If the immigrants paperwork and health were in
order the immigration process could take up to
three to five hours.

12.  From the moment their boat landed on American docks
immigrants faced a difficult life. They were easy pray for
greedy Americans looking to squeeze them for their money.
 Since these new immigrants had no place to go they often
stayed close to where they docked. Tenement houses raised
their prices so steep that many were forced to live on the
streets.
 Every street was filled with begging immigrants. One
immigrant wrote home saying “Our position in America is
one of shame and poverty”
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKCUwEdZfM8. This is a
popular Irish Folk song about the life of a beggar.

13.  Due to overwhelming number of Irish and the
poverty that seemed to plague them they knew
they had to stick together.
 Irish communities began popping up along costal
towns near the immigration ports where they came
in.
 In these communities the Irish established in a way
their own towns. They built churches

16.  Americas ever expanding economy was in great
demand for manual labor
 With the help of Americas ever growing
economy, manual labor jobs were in great
demand.
 Since there were no machines like we have today a
pick, and shovel were all workers had to break
ground for railroads.
 Women were no exception to this kind of life style
either. They took jobs as caretakers, cooks, and
soon this kind of servant work was seen only fit for
blacks and the Irish.

17.  As more Irish arrived they began filling any job
openings that were available.
 These jobs included such things as house caretakers
that was previously filled by blacks.
 It did not take long for the two ethnicities to begin
fighting over these types of jobs which created
hatred between the two.
 The blacks did not like that the Irish were filling jobs
that they once held.

18.  The Irish made up around twenty percent of the
unskilled labor force in America compared to the
only three percent average of other immigrants.
 These laboring jobs required long hours and
dangerous conditions with no compensation in pay.
 In 1879 the Knights of Labor elected Terence
Powderly a son of Irish Immigrants. Under his
leadership their membership grew to around
700,000. However their success did not live long due
to the strangle the industries put on unions.

19.  The Knights of Labor’s fall did not stop the Irish
from seeking labor rights.
 The American Federation for Labor was co founded
by second generation Irishmen Sam Gompers, and
P.J. McGuire.
 By 1920 union membership rose to a staggering five
million nationwide. The AFL reached 110 member
unions, and became a threat to industries.
 Soon labor negotiations began taking place and
working conditions began to improve.

20.  Irish immigrants took pride in becoming Americans
and were not afraid to fight for that right.
 During the outbreak of the Civil War it is estimated
that 170,000 Irish joined the Union Army, and an
another estimated 40,000 joined the Confederate
Army.
 The Irish were willing to go the distance when it
came to protecting the freedoms that they had
been given as Americans.

21.  The Irish were extremely proud in becoming
American’s, and did not take that process lightly
 Although they never forgot their allegiance to their
home country, and brought many of it’s customs
with them to America
 The one thing they brought with them was their
serious devotion to their religion. Many Irish were
Catholic, which soon became a dominate form of
Christianity.

22.  Up until the Irish immigration the Catholic religion
was only a small minority of accomplished English.
 As more and more Irish arrived in America so grew
the Catholic churches and soon were the dominate
religion in U.S.
 The Catholic church was very involved in helping
newly immigrated Catholics adapt to their new
lives. They provided housing, food, and set up job
opportunities. The church became more than a
place of worship it became known as a massive
family that stuck together.

23.  The Irish tended to support the Democratic Party
rather than the Republicans.
 Since the Irish were so populated in large cities they
made up a very large portion of the vote.
 It wasn’t long before the Irish had made their way
into elected posstions.
 Andrew Jackson, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy
are just some of the Irish descendents that held
distinguished office.

24.  Since their immigration to America the Irish have
impacted this nation greatly. They paved the way
for other immigrants showing them that
immigration brings hardships, but it can be
overcome.
 Some of the greatest contributions the Irish made
to America were their own people. Some include
Henry Ford, Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott
Fitzgerald, John Wayne. These are just some of the
Irish that have made an impact on America.
 Without the Irish spirit and willingness to
adapt, America would not be the great place we live

25.  Gunn, Mark. “A Bard’s Celtic Lyric Directory.” 1999-2010. 25
Oct. 2011 http://www.thebards.net/music/
 “Irish Immigrants in America during the 19th Century.” Hy
Kinsella. 1996-2011. 14 Oct. 2011
http://www.kinsella.org/history/histira.htm
 Oracle. “Immigration the journey to America.” Oracle
Education Foundation. June 2010. 20 Oct. 2011
<http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Irish.html>
 Trueman, Chris “The Great Famine of 1845.” 2000-2011. 27
Oct. 2011
<http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ireland_great_famine
_of_1845.htm>

26.  Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. “Ellis Island-
History.” 2000-2011. 27 Oct 2011
<http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/ellis_island_history.as
 Your Irish. “Life in Ireland During 1800.” YourIrish.com. 2010.
30 Oct 2011. http://www.yourirish.com/history/19th-century/