Irish Immigration to America

1. Irish Immigration to America By: Sydney Hickert and Daniela Fragoso Grade: 702 December 8, 2011

2. When did the Irish come to the United states? • At the beginning of the 19th century the dominant industry of Ireland was agriculture. Large areas of this land was under the control of landowners living in England. Much of this land was rented to small farmers who, because of a lack of capital, farmed with antiquated implements and used backward methods. • The average wage for farm laborers in Ireland was eight pence a day. This 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. • In 1816 around 6,000 Irish people sailed for America. Within two years this figure had doubled.

3. When did the Irish come to the United states? • In October 1845 a serious blight began among the Irish potatoes, ruining about three-quarters of the country's crop. This was a disaster as over four million people in Ireland depended on the potato as their chief food. People continued to die and in 1851 the Census Commissioners estimated that nearly a million people had died during the Irish Famine. • The Irish Famine stimulated a desire to emigrate to the United States: • 92,484 in 1846, • 196,224 in 1847, • 173,744 in 1848, • 204,771 in 1849, • and 206,041 in 1850. • By the end of 1854 nearly two million people - about a quarter of the population - had emigrated in ten years.

4. Andrew Jackson – son of an Irish immigrant became 7th President of the USA in 1829 St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 17th in New York City

5. Where did they settle? • Early arrivals were recruited to build canals. In 1818 over 3,000 Irish laborers were employed on the Erie Canal. By 1826 around 5,000 were working on four separate canal projects. • At this time they mainly lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and New Jersey. The Irish Emigrant Society tried to persuade immigrants to move to the interior but the vast majority were poverty-stricken and had no money for transport or to buy land. They therefore tended to settle close to the port where they disembarked. 1929 –An Irish family after their arrival in New York City

6. The map to the right shows the Irish population of the United States based on statistics from the 1890 census. The data reveals that immigration to New York had been the preference for nearly half a million (483,000) Irish-born settlers. Of these, 190,000 were in New York City. More than a quarter of a million (260,000) had settled in Massachusetts, chiefly in Boston, while Illinois also had a sizeable population of 124,000 of which 79,000 were in Chicago

7. What was it like when they came to the United States? • Thousands of Irish laborers worked on building the railroads in the United States. Some were able to save enough money to buy land and establish themselves as farmers along the routes they had helped to develop. This was especially true of Illinois and by 1860 there were 87,000 Irish people living there. • Other Irish immigrants became coalminers in Pennsylvania. Working conditions in the mines were appalling with no safety requirements, no official inspections and no proper ventilation. • The Irish tended to support the Democratic Party rather than the Republican Party. They had little sympathy for slaves as they feared that if they were given their freedom they would move north and threaten the jobs being done by Irish immigrants. • On the outbreak of the Civil War an estimated 170,000 men who were born in Ireland joined the Union Army.

8. How have the Irish influence American Music, food, clothing, language and holidays? • Immigrants contributed to the "American culture" in many ways. They became political and religious leaders. • The annual celebration of Saint Patrick's Day may be the mostwidely recognized symbol of the Irish presence in America. In cities throughout the United States, this traditional Irish religious holiday becomes an opportunity to celebrate all things Irish, with the largest celebration of the holiday in New York, an average of two million people. • Irish music and song brought to America by generations of immigrants have played a seminal role in the development of America's folk and country music. Elements of traditional Irish ballads introduced during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are easily discernible in many American folk songs. • In many large cities, the police and fire departments have been dominated by the Irish for over 100 years. • Attending Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is probably the most widely practiced of all Irish Christmas traditions

9. How have the Irish influence American Music, food, clothing, language and holidays? • Many Irish Americans do cook some of the dishes that make up the distinctive Irish cuisine, which is frequently served in Irish restaurants and pubs throughout America. Irish favorites as rashers (bacon), bangers (sausages), black and white pudding, and soda bread. Potatoes have traditionally constituted the staple of the Irish diet. The Irish also consume dairy products as butter, milk, and cheese in large quantities and large breakfast • Tea, served at all times of the day or night, is probably the most popular Irish beverage. Irish coffee, made from whiskey and coffee, is truly an Irish American invention and is not drunk much in Ireland. • The Irish believe that their whiskey is a finer drink. Irish stout, particularly the Guinness variety, is well-known throughout the world. • The Irish brought their native games of handball, hurling and Gaelic football to America

10. ~The Irish blessing May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at you back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May the Lord hold you in the plan of his hand.

11. Sources • http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Irish-Americans.html • http://www1.american.edu/bgriff/dighistprojects/Hogan/irish.htm • http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Irish.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_American